FY2027 contest for companies employing older workers opens; deadline February 26Looking for companies where people can keep working as they get older
On October 30, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced that it will run the FY2027 Contest for Companies Making the Most of Older Workers, jointly with the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers, and is inviting examples of initiatives that help older workers thrive. Applications close on Friday, February 26, 2027; for postal applications, a postmark of that day is accepted. Winners are scheduled to be announced in mid-September 2027.
- October 30, 2026Opening of applications announced
- February 26, 2027Application deadline (postmark of the day accepted)
- Mid-September 2027Winning companies announced
- During October 2027Outstanding entries honoured in Tokyo
Key points
- The contest is run jointly by the MHLW and the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers
- What is sought are examples of ingenuity in improving workplaces so that people can work regardless of age, such as creating a working environment in which older workers thrive, or creating new workplaces and new job roles
- Eligible applicants are companies that have introduced arrangements allowing people to keep working beyond the age of 65, and that have in addition taken their own steps to make the workplace one where older workers thrive
- The application deadline is Friday, February 26, 2027. For postal applications, a postmark of that day is accepted
- Winning companies are to be announced in mid-September 2027, and particularly outstanding entries are to be honoured in Tokyo during October 2027
What to do in practice
- Write down your arrangements for older workers and the concrete steps you have taken, such as carving out suitable tasks, improving equipment or allowing flexible hours, and compare them with the application guidelines
- If you intend to apply, prepare the in-house documents in time for the February 26, 2027 deadline
The national government (the MHLW) is looking for companies that let people keep working past the age of 65 and that have gone further with their own ideas, so that it can honour them. Applications opened on October 30 and close on February 26, 2027. The chosen companies will be announced in mid-September 2027, and the very best are due to be honoured in Tokyo in October of the same year.
- 1 LookWrite down the ideas your company has tried
- 2 ApplySend it in by February 26, 2027
- 3 ResultThe outcome comes in mid-September 2027
- 4 HonourThe very best are honoured in Tokyo in October
Points
- Companies can apply if they let people work past 65 and have added ideas of their own on top of that
- The deadline is February 26, 2027. If you send it by post, a postmark of that day is fine
- The chosen companies are announced in mid-September 2027 and honoured in Tokyo in October
What the words mean
- older workers
- People working at an advanced age. For this contest, the company must allow work past 65
- joint hosting
- Two organisations running the same event together
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Call for examples of initiatives that help older workers thrive: FY2027 Contest for Companies Making the Most of Older Workers
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