Japan expanding employee pension program for part-timers.

Japan will expand kosei nenkin pension participation for part-time workers by lowering company size thresholds and income requirements by 2029.

Japan's gearing up to shake things up with the kosei nenkin employee pension program. Right now, companies with 51 or more employees must enroll their part-time workers, but by October 2027, they’re lowering that threshold to just 21 employees. And guess what? By 2029, all workers putting in 20 hours a week will have to join, no matter the company size or pay. The government’s taking it slow on this one, knowing companies will face some extra costs. They’re also ditching the rule that part-timers earning ¥1.06 million annually need to join, which gives more folks access when minimum wages rise to ¥1,016 an hour. These changes are part of a bigger reform for the public pension system expected to hit the parliamentary session starting this Friday.
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