PROGRAM · WAGES
Work Improvement Grant
業務改善助成金“Gyōmu Kaizen Joseikin” — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Raise the lowest hourly wage in your workplace by ¥50 or more, invest in something that makes work more efficient, and get up to 4/5 of that investment back.
Maximum
¥6M
¥90 course, 10+ workers (special case)
Grant rate
4/5
3/4 if your lowest wage is ¥1,050 or more
Window
Yearly
Closes before your new minimum wage starts
Who can apply
Employers
SMEs with employees in Japan
What it is
The Work Improvement Grant is run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. You plan two things together: raising the lowest wage in your workplace (事業場内最低賃金) by a set amount, and an investment that improves productivity, such as new equipment or consulting.
You receive the lower of two amounts: your investment cost × the grant rate, or the maximum for your course.
Can foreign-owned businesses apply?
Yes. The grant is for employers, regardless of the owner's nationality. You need:
- An SME operating in Japan with employees — if you have no employees, you cannot apply
- Workers whose wages you raise must be in employment insurance and employed for 6+ months
- A wage raise and an investment that both happen after you apply
How much you can get
| Workers raised | ¥50 course | ¥70 course | ¥90 course |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ¥300K (¥400K) | ¥400K (¥500K) | ¥900K (¥1M) |
| 2–3 | ¥400K (¥700K) | ¥500K (¥1M) | ¥1.5M (¥2.4M) |
| 4–5 | ¥700K | ¥1.3M | ¥2.7M |
| 6–7 | ¥900K | ¥1.8M | ¥3.6M |
| 8 or more | ¥1.1M | ¥2.3M | ¥4.5M |
| 10 or more* | ¥1.3M | ¥3M | ¥6M |
Course = how much you raise the lowest wage (¥50, ¥70 or ¥90 or more). Amounts in brackets are for workplaces with fewer than 30 employees. *The “10 or more” bracket is only for special-case employers.
| Your lowest wage before the raise | Grant rate |
|---|---|
| Under ¥1,050 | 4/5 |
| ¥1,050 or more | 3/4 |
Special-case employers
You are a special case if your lowest wage is under ¥1,050, or your profit margin over the last 6 months fell 3 points or more from a year earlier because of outside factors such as rising costs. Special cases can use the “10 or more” bracket. The second type can also include PCs, smartphones and tablets.
What you can spend it on
Covered
- Equipment that makes work faster — e.g. POS systems, kitchen equipment
- Systems for customers, stock or bookkeeping
- Consulting to improve your workflow
Not covered
- PCs, smartphones and tablets — except for the profit-drop special case
- Investments or wage raises made before you apply
- Anything not linked to productivity
The ministry publishes a booklet of productivity ideas by industry (生産性向上のヒント集).
Before you apply
First
Check your lowest wage
事業場内最低賃金
Calculate the lowest hourly wage in your workplace, including how allowances count.
Then
Check your deadline
地域別最低賃金の発効日
The window closes the day before your prefecture's new minimum wage takes effect.
1–2 weeks
Get quotes
見積書
Quotes for the equipment or service you plan to buy.
How to apply, step by step
- 01
Plan the wage raise and the investment 計画
Choose your course (¥50, ¥70 or ¥90) and what you will buy.
- 02
Apply to your Prefectural Labour Bureau 都道府県労働局
On paper or online, within your prefecture's window.
- 03
Grant decision 交付決定
The bureau reviews your plan and sends a decision.
- 04
Raise wages, buy and pay 事業の実施
Delivery, payment and the wage raise must all be done by the project deadline.
- 05
Report the results 事業実績報告
Submit proof of payment and the new wages.
- 06
Receive the grant 助成金の支給
The grant is paid after your report is checked.
Deadlines
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Once a year — announced on the ministry page |
| Applications close | The day before your prefecture's new minimum wage takes effect (or the national closing date, if earlier) |
| Finish the project | By the deadline set for that year |
Check your prefecture first
Because each prefecture’s new minimum wage starts on a different date, the window can close much earlier where you are. See the ministry page and the minimum wage table.
Common mistakes
- Raising wages or buying before you apply. Only things done after applying count.
- Counting the wrong workers. They must be in employment insurance and employed for 6+ months.
- Missing the project deadline. Delivery, payment and the wage raise must all be finished.
- Salespeople claiming to work for the ministry. The ministry and labour bureaus never commission companies to promote this grant.
FAQ
Can a foreign-owned business get the Work Improvement Grant?
Yes. It is for employers in Japan regardless of the owner’s nationality. You need employees in employment insurance who have worked for you for 6 months or more, and you must raise their lowest wage after applying.
I run my business alone. Can I apply?
No. The grant supports raising employees’ wages, so a business without employees is not eligible.
Is it a competition like hojokin subsidies?
It is a joseikin (grant) run by the labour ministry. Applications are reviewed against the requirements rather than ranked like most hojokin, but you still need a grant decision before you start.
When can I apply?
The grant has run every fiscal year. The window closes the day before your prefecture’s new minimum wage takes effect, so check both dates on the ministry page and your labour bureau’s site.
Sources
- Work Improvement Grant (業務改善助成金) — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Wage-increase support grants package (賃上げ支援助成金パッケージ)
This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official Japanese guidelines always take priority.
NEED HELP IN ENGLISH?
Talk to an English-speaking expert
Labour and social security attorneys (sharoshi) who handle employment grants in English.
See experts →PR · Paid listings
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
- Payroll & attendance software
- POS & kitchen equipment
- Equipment financing