Past, present and future trends of occupational health in Japan, as at 1998

A long-standing characteristic of the occupational health system in Japan has been its prescriptive nature and a fairly uniform compliance by the public. Recently, Japanese society entered a period of maturation and challenge and is currently undergoing structural changes that are likely to enhance deregulation, competition, and a value system prioritizing individuality and diversity. Hence, the occupational health system is likely to adopt changes allowing more flexibility and freedom of choice for employers and workers, which, in turn, will promote the redefinition and scrutiny of occupational health within the framework of services and/or fringe benefits rather than be a matter of legal compliance.