Reader KA writes: "In a recent Lifelines column ("All employees in Japan are entitled to paid leave, period," Dec. 13) it was stated that all employees have the legal right to take paid vacation providing they meet certain basic criteria. Whilst that is legally correct, employers can often prevent paid holidays from being taken, stating that the business or staffing situation does not allow paid holidays to be taken until a distant time in the future. What can an employee do if an employer offers a number of excuses for not allowing paid vacation?

"I was told by my company that paid holidays will not be possible for at least six months, but I need to take some vacation before that time. In addition, I was told that perhaps I am too tired to work in my company if I require paid vacation. It seems that companies in Japan can manipulate both the employees and labor law for their own corporate gain. What can employees do to ensure that paid vacations are provided in a timely and equitable manner?

"In addition, despite a suicide in my company by a staff member who was working overtime in excess of 200 hours per month (yes, that's not a typo), staff continue to work excessive and damaging hours. The company management chose a staff representative to agree to additional unpaid overtime work and the labor office simply bowed to the will of my company.