Japan lower house passes bill for criminal checks for jobs with kids

Japan lower house passes bill for criminal checks for jobs with kids

Ayuko Kato, the Japanese minister in charge of policies related to children, bows at a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on May 23, 2024, after the passage of a bill that requires employers to conduct criminal background checks to block people with sex offense convictions from jobs involving children.

Japanese minister on child policies

Japanese minister on child policies

Ayuko Kato, Japanese minister in charge of policies related to children, holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2024.

Japan minister on child policies at parliament

Japan minister on child policies at parliament

Ayuko Kato, Japanese minister in charge of policies related to children, speaks at a House of Representatives budget committee session in Tokyo on Oct. 30, 2023.

Japanese minister on child policies

Japanese minister on child policies

Ayuko Kato, Japanese minister in charge of policies related to children, gives an interview in Tokyo on Oct. 3, 2023.

Japanese minister on child policies

Japanese minister on child policies

Ayuko Kato, Japanese minister in charge of policies related to children, gives an interview in Tokyo on Oct. 3, 2023.

Japanese minister on child policies

Japanese minister on child policies

Ayuko Kato, Japanese minister in charge of policies related to children, gives an interview in Tokyo on Oct. 3, 2023.

Japanese minister in charge of child policies

Japanese minister in charge of child policies

Ayuko Kato, new Japanese minister in charge of policies related to children, attends a press conference at the Cabinet Office in Tokyo on Sept. 15, 2023.

Japan PM Kishida's Cabinet reshuffle

Japan PM Kishida's Cabinet reshuffle

Ayuko Kato (R), new Japanese minister in charge of policies related to children, attends an attestation ceremony with Emperor Naruhito (L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Sept. 13, 2023. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (2nd from L) reshuffled his Cabinet the same day. (Pool photo)