As of September 1, 2021, individuals engaged in freight transport business using bicycles and IT freelancers have become eligible for special enrollment.

　Due to the revision of the Enforcement Regulations of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, as of September 1, 2021, the scope of the special enrollment system has been expanded as follows. "Individuals engaged in freight transport business using bicycles" have been added to the scope of special enrollment for sole proprietors, etc., and "individuals engaged in freight transport business using bicycles" have been added, and "IT freelancers (individuals engaged in work related to information processing, such as the design of information processing systems)" have been added to the scope of special enrollment for specified workers.

Note that these individuals will all be enrolled under Type 2 special enrollment, and the Type 2 special enrollment insurance premium rates for these individuals have been determined in the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Collection, etc. of Insurance Premiums for Labor Insurance as follows.

・Individuals engaged in freight transport business using bicycles……"12/1000"
・IT freelancers……"3/1000"

✅ What is the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance special enrollment system?

Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance is a system that provides compensation for accidents suffered by workers due to work or commuting. Even those who are not workers can voluntarily enroll and receive compensation if they meet certain requirements. This is called the "special enrollment system."

✅ Benefits of special enrollment

By specially enrolling in Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, you can receive compensation if you suffer an injury, illness, disability, or death while working.
*While the freight transport business is not covered for commuting accidents, if an accident occurs while performing work involving riding a bicycle within the scope of the business, or while loading/unloading cargo and acts directly incidental thereto, it will be recognized as a work-related accident.

✅ Benefit details

Under Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance benefits, the following types of benefits are provided.

・Medical expenses such as treatment costs for injuries, etc.
・Benefits for the period of absence from work due to injuries, etc.
・Benefits if a disability remains after treatment
・Benefits for surviving family members in the event of death, etc.

✅ Scope of eligibility

Previously, individuals engaged in freight transport business using automobiles and motorized bicycles were eligible for special enrollment as sole proprietors, etc., but from September 1, 2021, individuals engaged in freight transport business using bicycles also become eligible for special enrollment.

In addition, the scope of IT freelancers is, in principle, limited to those who perform the following duties/tasks.

・Design, development*2, management, auditing, and security management of information processing systems*1
・Integrated planning of work related to information processing systems*1
・Design, development, management, auditing, security management, and design of software or web pages
・Integrated planning and other information processing related to software or web pages
*1 Includes network systems, database systems, and embedded systems
*2 Includes project management

Specifically, the following types of people are eligible.

・IT consultants, ・Project managers, ・Project leaders
・System engineers, ・Programmers, ・Server engineers
・Network engineers, ・Database engineers, ・Security engineers
・Operations and maintenance engineers, ・Test engineers, ・In-house SEs
・Product development/R&D engineers, ・Data scientists, ・Application engineers
・Web designers, ・Web directors, etc.

✅ Points to note for existing special enrollment organizations

Organizations that have already been approved by the Prefectural Labor Bureau Director as special enrollment organizations related to passenger or freight transport business can perform special enrollment procedures for individuals engaged in freight transport business using bicycles as members of the organization starting from September 2021.
However, if the measures for the prevention of work-related accidents that the organization is required to take do not cover bicycles, it is necessary to submit documents describing work-related accident prevention measures for bicycles along with the notification of change.

✅ Frequently asked questions regarding Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance special enrollment procedures

・Individuals engaged in freight transport business using bicycles
Q: I am an individual engaged in freight transport business using a bicycle. What procedures are necessary for special enrollment?
A: Please submit an application for enrollment, etc., to the Prefectural Labor Bureau Director via the competent Labor Standards Inspection Office Director, either through an organization already approved as a special enrollment organization for freight transport business or by establishing a new special enrollment organization for freight transport business.

Q: I am engaged in a cargo transport business using a bicycle. Can I enroll if I work in a manner similar to a company employee?
A: If you are engaged in work under a contract such as a service contract rather than an employment contract, you can enroll through special enrollment.
Regardless of the contract format, if you are recognized as a worker in practice, workers' compensation insurance will apply* even if you have not specifically enrolled, and you can receive compensation.
*In this case, the business owner pays the insurance premiums.

Q: I am engaged in a cargo transport business using a bicycle. What should I do if I get injured while working after enrolling through special enrollment?
A: Please submit the application form for the insurance benefits you wish to claim to the competent Labor Standards Inspection Office or similar authority.

Q: What is a special enrollment organization?
A: It is an organization composed of individuals engaged in the same type of specific business or work (excluding those recognized as workers).

Q: I am engaged in a cargo transport business using a bicycle. I usually transport food, but sometimes I transport items other than food. Can I still enroll through special enrollment in this case?
A: Yes, you can enroll. The category added this time is for businesses that perform cargo transport using bicycles, so you will not be excluded from special enrollment eligibility based on the type of cargo transported.

・IT Freelancers
Q: I am an IT freelancer. What procedures are necessary to enroll through special enrollment?
A: Please submit an enrollment application form, etc., to the Prefectural Labor Bureau Director via the competent Labor Standards Inspection Office Chief, either through an organization already approved as a special enrollment organization for IT freelancers or by establishing a new special enrollment organization for IT freelancers.

Q: I am an IT freelancer. Can I enroll if I work in a manner similar to a company employee?
A: If you are engaged in work under a contract such as a service contract rather than an employment contract, you can enroll through special enrollment.
Regardless of the contract format, if you are recognized as a worker in practice, workers' compensation insurance will apply* even if you have not specifically enrolled, and you can receive compensation.
*In this case, the business owner pays the insurance premiums.

Q: I am an IT freelancer. What should I do if I get injured while working or commuting after enrolling through special enrollment?
A: Please submit the application form for the insurance benefits you wish to claim to the competent Labor Standards Inspection Office or similar authority.

Q: What is a special enrollment organization?
A: It is an organization composed of individuals engaged in the same type of specific business or work (excluding those recognized as workers).

Q: I am a special enrollment organization. Is any procedure required when an IT freelancer enrolls through special enrollment for the first time?
A: It is necessary to submit a "Notification of Change Regarding Special Enrollment."

✅ Flow of Enrollment Procedures

Please apply to the organization you wish to join as an individual engaged in a cargo transport business using a bicycle or as an IT freelancer. Upon receiving that application, the special enrollment organization will submit a "Special Enrollment Application" or a "Notification of Change Regarding Special Enrollment" to the competent Labor Standards Inspection Office. Finally, the Prefectural Labor Bureau Director will receive and approve it.

📕 Inquiries Regarding the Special Enrollment System

Our office can also handle these procedures. For details, please inquire via LINE.
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