Japan's 厚生労働省 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) and 文部科学省 (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) 「request」 economic organizations and industry organizations to show consideration in recruitment screening for students, pupils and others affected by the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
In a document dated August 14, 2026 the 厚生労働省 and the 文部科学省 「requested」 economic organizations and industry organizations to respond as flexibly as possible on recruitment screening schedules and on the deadlines for submitting documents for students, pupils and others affected by the Kumamoto earthquake, and since July 30 a special labour consultation counter has been set up at the 新卒応援ハローワーク within the jurisdiction of the 熊本労働局.
Key facts
| Nature of the measure (★not an obligation) | It is a 「要請」 (request) made by the 厚生労働省 and the 文部科学省 to economic organizations and industry organizations. The original text says 「要請しました」 (they have requested), and there is no statement of an amendment of laws or regulations or of an obligation imposed on companies. |
|---|---|
| Date of the request / who made it / who it was addressed to | Dated August 14, 2026 (令和8年) / the 厚生労働省 and the 文部科学省 / economic organizations and industry organizations |
| Content of the request (the scope given as examples in the original text) | So that students, pupils and others affected are not disadvantaged by delays in procedures and the like caused by the disaster: ① setting recruitment screening schedules that take account of the situation of the affected students and pupils, ② postponing the deadlines for submitting application documents and the like — that is, responding as flexibly as possible, and actively communicating such responses |
| Special labour consultation counter (date set up and scope) | Set up since July 30, 2026 at the 新卒応援ハローワーク (Hello Work for New Graduates) within the jurisdiction of the 熊本労働局 (Kumamoto Labour Bureau). It handles individual career consultations for affected students and others who are job hunting. The original text states that consultations are also accepted at a nearby Hello Work. |
| Contact (exactly as written in the original text) | 熊本新卒応援ハローワーク (Kumamoto Hello Work for New Graduates) — open weekdays 8:30–17:15, 熊本市中央区水前寺1-4-1 水前寺駅ビル2F, TEL 096-385-8240 |
Last checked:
In a document dated August 14, 2026 (令和8年), the 厚生労働省 and the 文部科学省 requested economic organizations and industry organizations to respond as flexibly as possible so that students, pupils and others affected by the 令和8年 Kumamoto earthquake are not disadvantaged by delays in procedures and the like caused by the disaster. The examples given in the request are ① setting recruitment screening schedules that take account of the situation of the affected students and pupils, and ② postponing the deadlines for submitting application documents and the like; the ministries also asked that such responses be actively communicated. This is not an amendment of laws or regulations, nor an obligation imposed on companies: it is a 「要請」 (request) addressed to economic organizations and industry organizations. In addition, since July 30 a special labour consultation counter has been set up at the 新卒応援ハローワーク (Hello Work for New Graduates) within the jurisdiction of the 熊本労働局 (Kumamoto Labour Bureau) to handle consultations from affected students and pupils, and it provides individual career consultations for affected students and others who are job hunting. The 厚生労働省 page carries, as reference material, the document 「令和８年熊本地震により被災した学生・生徒等への配慮について（要請）」, and states that it may be used as needed, for example when making enquiries to companies.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
Do companies have to postpone their recruitment screening schedules?
That is not what the source says. The 厚生労働省 and the 文部科学省 「requested」 economic organizations and industry organizations to respond as flexibly as possible, and the original text contains no statement about an obligation on companies or about compulsion. How an individual company responds has to be checked with that company directly. The 厚生労働省 page carries, as reference material, the document 「令和８年熊本地震により被災した学生・生徒等への配慮について（要請）」, and states that it may be used as needed, for example when making enquiries to companies.
Can I get a consultation outside Kumamoto as well?
The special labour consultation counter is one set up at the 新卒応援ハローワーク within the jurisdiction of the 熊本労働局. The original text does, however, state that consultations are also accepted at a nearby Hello Work. The source contains no statement about other consultation routes.