June 6, 2023 Solicitation Begins for Telework Top Runner 2023 Entries

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) collects and awards leading examples to promote the spread of telework, i.e., a flexible work style that effectively uses time and place through ICT.
MIC now announces that it will accept applications for the Telework Top Runner 2023.

1. Overview of Telework Top Runner 2023

The utility of telework has been recognized in society amid the recent spread of the COVID-19 infection, and many companies and organizations have since employed it.
To promote the spread of telework, MIC has been promoting the introduction and utilization of telework, selecting and publicizing companies and organizations with a good track record, and implementing excellent initiatives.
This year, in light of the current situation where telework has expanded, the program will not only focus on introducing telework systems and the results of good use of telework. It will also implement initiatives to solve regional issues, such as demonstrating management effectiveness through telework, solving communication issues during telework, and promoting regional industries and local informatization. MIC will select and announce companies and organizations with outstanding telework initiatives as Telework Top Runners 2023 and honor the most outstanding initiatives with the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Telework Top Runner 2023 Award (see Attachment 1 in PDF for the program outline).
Additionally, this year’s Telework Top Runner 2023 program aims to broaden the reach of telework adoption across the entire government. The award ceremony will be held jointly with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award for telework promotion companies (Shining Telework Award) and the Office for Promotion of Regional Revitalization under the Cabinet Office for the Local Revitalization Telework Award to disseminate the initiatives of award-winning companies and organizations widely. Refer to “10. Others” below for the application for each award.

2. Eligible applicants

Companies and organizations (private companies (joint-stock companies, general partnership companies, limited partnership companies, limited liability companies, etc.), specified nonprofit corporations, local public organizations, including prefectural and municipal governments, and similar organizations) that have teleworking requirements in their work rules, etc.

3. Application method and submission destination

Submit the application form by email in accordance with the Implementation Guidelines (Attachment 2 in PDF).

4. Application period

From Tuesday, June 6, and no later than Friday, July 31, 2023

5. Examination, etc.

Telework Top Runners 2023 will be selected based on the screening criteria (Attachment 3 in PDF) after a review by external experts. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Telework Top Runner 2023 Award will be determined based on the results of a screening committee of external experts that will select companies and organizations making particularly outstanding efforts among the companies and organizations to be selected as Telework Top Runners 2023.

6. Announcement of screening results

The screening results are scheduled to be announced around October 2023.

7. Awards ceremony

The companies and organizations selected for the Telework Top Runner 2023: Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award will be honored at the awards ceremony scheduled for Monday, November 27, 2023. The award ceremony will be held jointly with the awards ceremony for the Shining Telework Award presented by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Local Revitalization Telework Award presented by the Cabinet Office for Promotion of Regional Revitalization.

8. Publicizing the initiatives of award-winning companies and organizations

The media will interview companies and organizations that receive the Telework Top Runner 2023: Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award, and their efforts will be widely publicized as leading examples. Information will be disseminated through mass media like newspapers and other media outlets specializing in employment and career change information. After making the decision, the information will be announced on the Telework Month website https://teleworkgekkan.go.jp

9. Contact for inquiries

Inquiries regarding this solicitation should be addressed to the Telework Top Runner 2023 Secretariat.
Telework Top Runner 2023 Secretariat
Email：telework@ml.soumu.go.jp

10. Others

1. Solicitation for organizations to implement Telework Month

Since 2015, the government has designated November as Telework Month and has been intensively conducting publicity and other activities to promote the spread of telework. In fiscal 2023, MIC uses Telework Month to recruit companies and organizations to practice telework further. MIC will post information about the openings on MIC’s Telework Month website (https://teleworkgekkan.go.jp ), so please check and register.

2. MHLW’s Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award for Telework Promotion Companies (Shining Telework Award)

MHLW awards the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award (Shining Telework Award) to companies and organizations that have achieved a better work-life balance for their workers through telework and have set an example for others. MHLW is now accepting applications from companies and organizations that could be nominated for the 2023 award. (Application period: Tuesday, June 6 through Monday, July 31, 2023)

3. Solicitation for Entries for the Local Revitalization Telework Award, Office for Promotion of Regional Revitalization, Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Office has begun to recognize companies, organizations, and local governments engaged in regional revitalization telework that contributes to the rejuvenation of regions in various ways by accelerating the flow of people to the regions, such as through migration without leaving the company, increasing the number of people involved through work vacations, and establishing regional satellite offices by companies in the Tokyo area. The Cabinet Office has begun accepting applications for the award. In addition, the Collaborative Partner Award has been established to recognize local governments implementing initiatives in close cooperation with the companies and organizations selected for the award. (Application period: Tuesday, June 6 through Friday, June 30)

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