Case of Claim for Unpaid Wages, etc., Reiwa 4 (Gyo-U) No. 36

In 2025, the Tokyo District Court adjudicated an administrative lawsuit filed by a Korean national who had been employed as a public school teacher in Tokyo. The plaintiff claimed that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government failed to pay overtime wages for extracurricular duties, demanding unpaid wages and compensation. The defendant argued that teachers were subject to a special salary system exempting overtime pay. The case, originally filed in 2022 as Reiwa 4 (Gyo-U) No. 36, centered on whether the teacher qualified as a "worker" under the Labor Standards Act and whether the exemption violated constitutional equal treatment, especially given the plaintiff's foreign nationality. The court partially upheld the claim, ordering payment for certain documented overtime hours.

The Tokyo District Court ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff, ordering the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to pay a portion of the claimed unpaid wages for documented overtime work. The court did not fully abolish the special salary system but found that certain extracurricular activities exceeded the scope of exempted duties.

Whether a public school teacher is considered a "worker" under Japan's Labor Standards Act and entitled to overtime pay; whether the special salary system for teachers constitutes unjust discrimination, and whether the foreign national's status heightened the need for equal protection.

The case spotlighted the working conditions of foreign teachers and broader issues of teacher overtime in Japan. It intensified public debate on reforming the teacher salary system and ensuring labor rights for non-Japanese workers, contributing to policy discussions on work-style reform. Korean media also covered the case, fueling dialogue on minority rights in Japan.