The bill, which cleared the Lower House on May 25, was approved at an Upper House plenary session with a majority vote by the members of the governing parties.

It is aimed at protecting employees at private companies, temporary workers, employees at firms that have business relations with wrongdoers and public servants.

But it does not protect managers at wrongdoers' business partners, such as subcontractors, despite demands for their inclusion by the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan.

The bill is accompanied by a nine-point supplementary resolution confirming its intention to expand protection for whistle-blowers, stipulating that those who are not protected under the bill will be covered by other laws.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 19, 2004
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