The present invention has its object to provide a method for producing an optically active hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative which is an intermediate important for production of medicines, agrochemicals, chemical products, and so on. The production method of the present invention comprises: carrying out a hydrogen-transfer reduction of a ketocarboxylic acid or a salt thereof by the reaction of an optically active diamine complex to produce an optically active hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative. According to the present invention, it is possible to safely and efficiently produce an industrially-useful optically active hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative.