Updated: July 2025, 3

Currently, there are two types of small and medium-sized enterprise labor-saving subsidies: "catalog type" and "general type."

The "catalog type" subsidy aims to lead to wage increases in small and medium-sized enterprises by having employees select and introduce general-purpose products that are effective in improving productivity from a "product catalog."

The "general type" subsidy aims to improve productivity and raise wages by subsidizing the costs of introducing custom-made equipment and building systems tailored to the individual work sites of small and medium-sized enterprises and other businesses.

We will explain the target companies and businesses of this project, as well as the requirements, etc., dividing them into "catalog type" and "general type."

Small and medium-sized enterprises labor-saving investment subsidy (catalog type)

The recipients of the subsidy are:Small and medium-sized enterprises facing labor shortages.

Labor shortage requirements

There are specific conditions as listed below, and you will be required to submit documents that objectively demonstrate the "labor shortage" situation.

Due to limited manpower, the average overtime hours of employees in the recent past have exceeded 30 hours.

The number of employees has decreased by 5% or more compared to the previous fiscal year due to resignations or retirements that are not due to dismissal for reasons of reorganization

We conducted recruitment activities and posted job openings, but were unable to fill them.

In addition, there is an urgent need to promote labor-saving measures.

中小企业

At the time of application, the company registration etc. is completed in Japan,Small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Japanis the target.

Specifically, these are the small and medium-sized enterprises listed in the table below.

Corporations other than the small and medium-sized enterprises listed above are also eligible.

• Various Associations
• Non-profit organizations (NPOs) with 300 or fewer employees
• Social welfare corporations with 300 or fewer employees

Please note that businesses that fall under the following cannot apply.

• It has been less than 10 months since you received a manufacturing subsidy in the past.
• Received manufacturing subsidies more than once within the past three years
• Applicants who have previously been selected for business restructuring subsidies and are applying for this project using equipment introduced through that subsidy.

What is a wage increase?

• Increase the minimum wage in the workplace by 45 yen or more
• Increase total salary payment by 6% or more

It is necessary to formulate a business plan that is expected to achieve both of the above points at the end of the subsidy period compared to the time of application for the grant, and to announce a wage increase plan to employees.

*If you do not have any employees, you cannot set a wage increase target, and therefore cannot apply for an increased maximum subsidy amount.

Small and medium-sized enterprises and distributors will jointly formulate a business plan and submit an application for subsidy regarding the plan's contents.

① Confirm that there is a labor shortage

You will need to select one of the labor shortage reasons listed above and submit the documents required for that reason.

② Labor productivity improvement goal

Small and medium-sized enterprises etc. will formulate plans to improve labor productivity and submit the plans for grant applications.

Projects must formulate a business plan to increase labor productivity by an average annual growth rate of 3% or more for three years after the completion of the subsidy project, compared to the time of application for the grant.

③ Formulation of business plans to promote labor-saving

Create a business plan for introducing labor-saving products registered in the catalogue and achieving the goal of improving labor productivity, and explain the following points when applying for the grant:

(1) How to use the installed product

Introducing labor-saving products and using them in a way that will bring out the labor-saving effect.User, place of use, time of use, purpose of useWe will explain four of these points.

(2) How to use the time and manpower that can be extracted from existing operations through labor-saving measures

*gBizID is a common authentication service for corporations and sole proprietors that allows them to log in to various government services.

Small and Medium Enterprise Labor Saving Investment Subsidy (General Type)

The target applicants are subject to the same conditions as for the "catalog type."

In addition to "catalog type" companies, companies or individuals whose capital or total investment amount is less than 10 billion yen and is equal to or less than the figures in the table below are also eligible.

What is a wage increase?

• Annual average salary increase of 6.0% or more
• The minimum wage in the workplace is at least 50 yen above the minimum wage in the prefecture where the project is being implemented.

Meet all of the following requirements3-5 year business planIt is necessary to formulate a policy.

Average annual growth rate of labor productivity to increase by 4.0% or more

The average annual growth rate of total wages per person is equal to or exceeds the average annual growth rate of the minimum wage in the prefecture where the project is implemented over the past five years, or the average annual growth rate of total wages is increased by 1% or more

The minimum wage in the workplace is at least 30 yen above the minimum wage in the prefecture where the project is being implemented.

Public announcement of general employer action plans based on the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support the Development of the Next Generation

Other requirements include:

• Calculation of labor-saving index for reducing workload
• Submit your payback period
• Increase in added value
• Introducing custom-made equipment to alleviate labor shortages
• Service and maintenance contract with Sler
• Submission of confirmation of business plan by financial institution

* "Small and Medium Enterprise Labor Saving Investment Subsidy Program" by the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation

The above are the application requirements for the "catalog type" and "general type"

We are accepting "catalog type" applications at any time.

The first public application period for the "General Type" will begin on March 2025, 3.

There will be three to four open call periods per year.

If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise that would like to use the Small and Medium Enterprise Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy to increase sales and improve productivity, please feel free to contact us!