Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: "Career Up Grant"

A subsidy program by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare that promotes career development and improvement of treatment for non-regular workers (fixed-term contract workers, dispatch workers, part-timers, etc.) by providing financial support to employers who implement regularization or wage improvements. Employers of SMEs and large enterprises who convert fixed-term contract workers to regular employees, regularize dispatch workers, or establish wage increase systems and personnel evaluation frameworks are eligible. Multiple course options include: Regularization Course (¥570,000+ per worker), Wage Regulation Revision Course (up to ¥285,000 per eligible worker), and Health Checkup System Installation Course (up to ¥385,000), with total company subsidies sometimes reaching several million yen. Eligibility requires at least 6 months of operation as an employment insurance-covered business and 6+ months of employment for target workers. Application deadlines and implementation schedules are strictly defined, making early consultation with the relevant Hello Work office and advance planning essential.