Japan considers nursing care reforms to combat harassment and labor shortages

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is considering new measures to protect nursing care workers from customer harassment (kasuhara) as part of upcoming nursing care compensation revisions. During a Social Security Council meeting, officials discussed clarifying the “justifiable reasons” that allow providers to refuse services to users or families who engage in abusive behavior.

While some committee members advocated for clearer rules to ensure staff safety and organizational resilience, others expressed caution. Concerns were raised regarding how to handle behaviors related to dementia and the potential for users to be left without necessary care if services are denied without adequate alternatives.

Beyond harassment, the council addressed broader challenges for the 2026 fiscal year, including severe labor shortages and the need for productivity improvements. Discussions focused on increasing wages to match other industries, reducing administrative burdens for small-scale providers, and promoting the use of ICT and monitoring technologies to maintain service quality with limited personnel.