Tokyo (AFP) – Japan will ease overtime regulation starting Tuesday in a move meant to help spur economic growth but criticised as a relapse into the country's ingrained workaholic culture.

The move comes after the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi -- a self-proclaimed workaholic -- adopted a growth strategy in July calling for revisions to the current oversight of work hours.

The change in part reflects calls from certain business sectors for more flexible work styles as they grapple with a deepening labour shortage.

Roughly 40 percent of businesses in Japan are operating under specific labour-management agreements that legally allow monthly overtime of up to 100 hours, according to the labour ministry.

But those companies were still advised by authorities to cap overtime at 45 hours each month, with that guidance considered on par with regulation.

That was because exceeding that threshold can increase risks for so-called "karoshi", or deaths from overwork, a labour ministry official told AFP.

Under the new rule that took effect Tuesday, labour standards inspection offices will no longer pressure businesses over the 45-hour limit.

A Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey showed in May that this pressure was "restricting" activity of around 20 percent of Japan's small and mid-sized businesses, especially in short-staffed industries such as construction, transport and hospitality.

Critics, however, said the move reversed steps taken by Japan to modernise its corporate culture long centred around marathon work hours.

...