Based on a leaflet issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (January 2026), social insurance coverage (Health Insurance and Employees’ Pension Insurance) for part-time workers will be significantly expanded due to rising minimum wages and pension system reforms.
Here are three key points HR professionals should understand:
Point 1: Working 20 Hours or More per Week Will Generally Trigger Automatic Coverage
Currently, part-time workers must meet several requirements to enroll in social insurance, including:
- Working at least 20 hours per week
- Earning at least ¥88,000 per month
However, due to increases in regional minimum wages, employees working 20 hours or more per week will, in most cases, automatically meet the monthly wage requirement.
In practice, this increasingly means:
👉 20+ working hours per week = Social insurance coverage required
For detailed hourly wage thresholds and calculations, please refer to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website.
社会保険適用対象となる加入条件｜厚生労働省 | 社会保険適用拡大 特設サイト
Point 2: The Wage Requirement (the “¥1.06 Million Annual Income Barrier”) Will Be Abolished
The monthly wage requirement of ¥88,000 is scheduled to be abolished in October 2026.
As a result:
👉 Part-time workers who work 20 hours or more per week will, in principle, be subject to social insurance coverage
(subject to company size and student status requirements).
The so-called “¥1.06 million annual income barrier” will effectively be removed under the revised system.
Point 3: The Company Size Requirement Will Be Gradually Reduced
Currently, the rule applies to companies with 51 or more employees (Employees’ Pension insured persons).
This threshold will be reduced in stages:
- From October 2027: 36 or more employees
- From October 2029: 21 or more employees
- From October 2032: 11 or more employees
- From October 2035: Company size requirement abolished
👉 Small and medium-sized enterprises will also be increasingly affected.
Eventually, the requirement is expected to apply to nearly all companies.
⚠ Practical Considerations for HR Departments
- Review employees working 20 hours or more per week
- Reassess coverage when working conditions change
- Ensure timely submission of qualification acquisition notifications
- Provide advance explanations to part-time employees regarding premium contributions
Going forward, it will be difficult to assume that “our company is not subject to the rule.”
Early internal preparation is strongly recommended.
For detailed hourly wage figures and exceptional cases, please refer to the official MHLW leaflet and website.
社会保険適用拡大のこんなとき！どうする？｜厚生労働省｜社会保険適用拡大特設サイト
