The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has established a two-day work week (eight days off in four weeks) as a general rule for construction work under its direct control. From fiscal 2023, the scope of application of the "Ordering Party Designation System," in which orders are placed with eight days off per four weeks as a mandatory condition, has been expanded to include all construction from fiscal 2023. . The "contractor's preference method," which gives incentives to compensate for labor costs in stages even if there are six days off per week or seven days off per four weeks, will be limited. Ahead of the application of the upper limit on overtime work with penalties in a year's time, the government will take steps to ensure a two-day work week.
Since fiscal 2018, the Building and Repairs Department of the Cabinet Office has been carrying out work to promote two-day workweeks. The orderer designation is made by multiplying the labor cost by a correction factor of 1.05 at the planned price in advance, and if the two days off per week is not achieved, the correction is reduced. On the other hand, the contractor's request is a method of increasing the amount after the fact according to the achievement status of holidays, and a correction coefficient of 1.01 for 6 days off in 4 weeks and 1.03 for 7 days off in 4 weeks is provided in stages.
Of the two-day workweek promotion projects, the ratio of those who actually achieved a two-day work week has steadily increased to 67.4% in FY2019, 78.9% in FY2020, and 90.9% in FY2021. In light of this situation, over the past few years, the scope of application designated by the orderer, which requires 8 days off per 4 weeks, has been gradually expanded. From fiscal 2021, new construction work will be designated as the orderer in principle, and from fiscal 2010, construction grade B or higher (planned price of 300 million yen or more) and facility grade A or higher (planned price of 300 million yen or more) will be made in principle.
Most recently, with the exception of construction work that is difficult to handle based on the actual situation of the region, almost all repair work under the direct control of the company is being promoted for two days off per week. In fiscal 2023, nearly 200 projects a year are expected to be ordered by the orderer.
In anticipation of the application of overtime regulations, the department will package and promote measures related to work-style reform, such as construction to promote two days off per week. We will also work on appropriate construction schedule setting and leveling of construction schedule, utilization of BIM and ASP (information sharing system), and smooth coordination between related parties. We will also consider measures to achieve two days off per month, just like civil engineering work under our direct control.
