The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to create a Japanese version of Britain's Disclosure and Barring Service to check whether people holding or seeking jobs that involve contact with children have sex crime records.

The bill aimed at preventing sexual offenses against children was approved unanimously at a plenary meeting of the Lower House. The government and ruling parties aim to enact the bill during the current ordinary session of the parliament, set to end in June, after deliberations in the House of Councilors.

Under the new legislation, schools, nurseries, orphanages and other institutions will be required to check whether workers have sex crime records, conduct related staff training and establish consultation systems.