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Anti-customer harassment rules take effect in Japan

Companies in Japan are required from October 1 to take measures to protect their workers from harassment or abuse by customers or business partners.

So-called customer harassment is defined as behavior that goes beyond socially acceptable norms.

It includes making demands unrelated to products and services, forcing workers to kneel and bow in apology, as well as intimidating them by shouting.

A revision of the Labor Policy Promotion Law mandates companies to respond firmly to such abuse and make their policies to protect staff public.

They are also required to inform staff of steps to be taken, such as not allowing a worker who's being harassed to deal with the situation alone.

Firms also have to set up consultation booths and provide psychological care for victims.

One possible penalty that companies which fail to implement measures could face is having their names made public.