Can a Silicon Valley HQ&#39;ed company request a previous salary for a Japan-based position?
<p>I have recently become aware of a new California law (effective Janaury 2018) which prevents employers from requesting salary history to potential hiring candidates: <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB168" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB168</a></p>

<p>However, a very large Silicon Valley-based company with a branch in Japan is indeed requesting this information for a position based in Japan (prior to an offer of course). </p>

<p>I am confused about if this law would apply to the company even in Japan. </p>

<p>All I have been able to find out is that the Japan branch is a "100%-owned subsidiary" of the California-based HQ, and even with that information I am not sure how the law applies.</p>

<p>(If it's relevant, this question would apply to an applicant that is a U.S. Citizen/California non-resident and currently files both California State tax and Federal income tax, and the previous company worked at would be a Japan-based one.)</p>

<p>Neither the United States nor California have jurisdiction in Japan. Their laws do not apply.</p>

<p>Japanese laws apply to the Japanese company advertising the Japanese position, when in Japan.</p>

<p>Japan does not appear to have a law banning or restricting requests for previous salary, and they seem common enough that job seekers should prepare this in advance. This request is entirely legitimate.</p>

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