Living Information for Foreign Residents of Itabashi City Working in Japan In order to take on employment, foreign residents of Japan must have residential qualifications which permit them to work. Generally, residential qualifications in Japan can be divided into one of four groups. (1) Visa types without any limitations on work (4 types): Permanent residency, dependent of a Japanese national, dependent of permanent resident, long term resident visas. (2) Visa professions or areas approved of to work, with some limitations (17 types): Foreign diplomats, government representatives, university professors, artists, priests and related religious representatives, reporters, capital investors, management, lawyers, accounting related services, medical related work, research, education, technicians, specialist in humanities, international services, intra company transferred employees, industrial promotion, specialists and specialist training visas. (3) Visas that do not permit the holder to work (5 types): Cultural, short term, college, trainee and foreign family visas. (4) Visas where permission is work is determined by individual case (1 type): Designated activity visas Holders of college and foreign family visas may receive permission to work a limited number of hours from the Ministry of Justice s local Immigration Bureau. In accordance with guidelines set out by the Ministry of Justice, holders of these visa types can work a maximum of 28 hours a week. Even if one has a visa like in (2) that permit work, you must receive separately a permit to do work outside of one s status from the Immigration Bureau to do part time work, etc. What You Need to Work in Japan 2 Looking for Work in Japan 3 Labor Contracts and Insurance 5 Services Applicable to Itabashi City Residents 8 Unless otherwise noted, please make any Contact in Japanese to the respective divisions using the telephone numbers listed in this brochure. Published by: Itabashi Culture & International Exchange Section, Itabashi City Office 2-66-1 Itabashi, Itabashi City, Tokyo 173-8501, Tel: 03(3579)2018 Editing Team: International Exchange Section, Itabashi Culture and International Exchange Foundation, 2-66-1 Itabashi, Itabashi City, Tokyo 173-8501, Tel: 03(3579)2015 Published: March 2013 1
What You Need to Work in Japan In order to work legally in Japan you must have the proper visa certification. Those with cultural visas, short-term visas, college student visas, trainee visas or foreign family visas are not permitted to work in Japan. However, foreigners who holding college student visas or foreign family visas can apply through their local Immigration Bureau to the Ministry of Justice for a permit to work in a limited capacity. Individuals who have work visas will also need to get such special permission to work if they want to do other jobs which are outside of the work they were originally given permission for, such as part time jobs. Permission to Work Outside of Permitted Status Foreign Resident General Information Center Telephone: 0570-013904 (IP/PHS/International phones: 03-5796-7112) URL: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/info/index.html Foreigners living in Japan are eligible to do any of the activities originally listed in their visa. However, when they wish to engage in activities outside the range of activities stipulated by his or her visa status for which they would receive some form of income, then they must receive permission from the Immigration Bureau. For example, the primary purpose for college student visa holders to be in Japan is to study, not to work, but students may apply at the bureau to work a limited number of hours, with the assumption that it would not hinder their study. The following types all require special permission to work. Students (Resident Status: College-student visa) Day and hours flexible (28 hours or less per week) Students are allowed to work up to 8 hours a day during extended vacation periods Family (Resident Status: Foreign family visa) Day and hours flexible (28 hours or less per week) Other visa holders who wish to conduct work outside of their original permitted activities should consult with the Immigration Bureau individually. Cautions Holders of special outside-activities work permits are not allowed to work at snacks, pubs, pachinko parlors or other entertainment and amusement businesses. If you have not obtained a certificate of permission to work, or you are made to work beyond the guidelines stipulated by the certificate, it is against the law and your employer could face up to three years of imprisonment and be fined up to three million yen. College-student visa holders who work without the appropriate permit can be fined up to two million yen and up to one year of imprisonment. Certificate of Permission to Work Foreign Resident General Information Center Telephone: 0570-013904 (IP/PHS/International phones: 03-5796-7112) URL: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/info/index.html You can check your passport or Resident card (or Alien Registration Card if still valid) to confirm whether or not you have the appropriate status to work. These documents will have a stamp or clearly state that you are eligible to work. However, there are many situations where it is not clear to either the visa holder or their employer what is and is not permitted. In order to get more detailed information, or to apply for a certificate of permission to work, contact the Immigration Bureau. 2
Looking for Work in Japan Job Center (Hello Work) Hello Work URL: https://www.hellowork.go.jp/ Hello Work is an organization that introduces work to people seeking employment and will provide employment counseling regardless of nationality. Hello Work will also assist in matching employment seekers abilities, working time, travel time, etc. with companies. There are also interpreters at some Hello Work offices. With the exception of special skills such as interpretation there are no limitations or restrictions for foreigners. Hello Work cannot introduce jobs to individuals without the appropriate certificates and paperwork. Check your visa and your Resident card (or Alien Registration Card if still valid) to tell if you are permitted to work. Hello Work Ikebukuro (Closest to Itabashi) 3-1-1 Higashi Ikebukuro, Sunshine Toshima City Sunshine 60 Building Building 3F Japanese-language Only Monday through Friday, 8:30-17:15 (Tuesdays, 03-5911-8609 Fridays until 19:00) 2 nd /4 th Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Tokyo Foreigner Employment Service Center Contact: Daiichi Seimei Building, 21F, 2-7-1, Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku City Tel: 03-5339-8625 Access: 2minutes on foot from the Tocho-mae Station (Oedo Line), or 3 minutes from Nishi-shinjuku Station (Metro Marunouchi Line) Hours: 8:30AM 5:15PM (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays and year-end holidays) URL: http://www.tokyo-foreigner.jsite.mhlw.go.jp Services: (1) Consulting and introduction of employment opportunities in Japan for interested foreign students. (2) Consulting and introduction of employment opportunities in Japan for foreigners engaged in specialty or vocational training. (3) Consultations regarding residency status. * English and Chinese interpreters are available on designated days only. Individuals requiring such assistance are advised to confirm those days in advance. Shinjuku Foreigner Employment Support and Guidance Service Center Hello Work Shinjuku (Kabuki-cho Government Office) 1st Floor 2-42-10 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku City Telephone: 03-3204-8609 Fax: 03-3204-8619 Hours: 8:30-17:15(Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays and yearend holidays) Services: (1) Consulting and introduction of employment opportunities to individuals who have a Japanese spouse or permanent residency, and therefore do not have any working restrictions. (2) Consulting and introduction of employment opportunities to foreign students looking for part-time work. (3) Consultations regarding residency status. *English, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese interpreters are available through appointment only. Please call ahead of time to make an appointment if you need an interpreter. 3
Employment for Foreign Graduates Foreign Resident General Information Center Telephone: 0570-013904 (IP/PHS/International calls: 03-5796-7112) URL: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/info/index.html There are some limitations related to the kinds of visas foreign students who have just graduated from a Japanese educational institute and who want to work in Japan can hold. You need to go to your nearest Immigration Bureau and change the status of your visa in order to work in Japan. The application process requires the following documents. Things You Need To Prepare: (1) Application form for Change of Status (Applicant forms 1, 2) (2) Passport and Resident card (or Alien Registration Card if still valid) (3) In the case of specialists and professionals, proof of your specialization Things Your Employer Needs To Prepare (1) Application form for Change of Status (Affiliated organization forms 1, 2) (2) Other documents necessary for the type of status to which the applicant desires to change to. In accordance with amendments in the immigration laws, employers are divided into four different categories in accordance with their scale, etc., and the documents that each organization will need to submit changes depending on which type they have been categorized in. Please look at the following on the Ministry of Justice s website for more details. URL: http://www.moj.go.jp/online/immigration/16-2.html (in Japanese) 4
Labor Contracts and Insurance (1) Forming Labor Contracts Tokyo Foreigners Employment Service Center Telephone: 03-5339-8625 URL: http://tokyo-foreigner.jsite.mhlw.go.jp/ Or, the Labor Standards Supervision Office for your work area An employment contract is a contract stating the working conditions between each employee and their employer. According to Japanese labor standards, individuals who work in Japan, regardless of their nationality or sex, as well as an individual s immigration history or violations therein are, in principle, subject to the minimum wage laws, the labor protection act, and workers compensation, etc.. Employers must state in writing all working conditions such as pay and working hours, etc. of the employee and give this document to the employee. Trouble can occur when only a verbal contract is made since there is no evidence of the terms of pay. It is therefore important to obtain a written contract with as many details as possible. If the contract is written in Japanese, have it translated into your native language and check the details. Details which must be stated in an employment contract (1) The term of the working contract (2) The place of work and details of their work duties (3) Work hours and the possibility of work outside the specified work hours, rest time, holidays, vacations, etc. (4) Terms of pay, how it will be calculated, its method of payment, when it is to be paid and information about pay increases (5) Possible retirement benefits, etc. If a company has its own fixed working regulations, check it out by asking for the Work Regulations (shugyo kisoku). (2) Labor Insurance System The labor insurance system is divided into two types: workers compensation and employment insurance. a. Workmen s Compensation Insurance for Accidents (Rosai) The Labor Standards Supervision Office If you are injured, become ill due to work, die from overwork (karoshi), commit suicide due to excessive work or are injured while commuting to and from work, and fulfill certain conditions, you may be eligible to receive medical treatment benefits (ryoyo hosho kyufu), benefits for sick leave (kyugyo hosho kyufu), or disability benefits (shogai hosho kyufu). This system applies to all foreign workers. (Contact the Labor Standards Inspection Office for the district of your employer.) b. Employment Insurance Please visit your nearest Hello Work (public employment assistance office). Employment insurance provides workers who have been made unemployed with unemployment benefits (shitsugyo kyufu) so as to provide them with social stability until they are re-employed. Joining the Employment Insurance and Qualifications to Become Insured In principle, all employers must enter the Employment Insurance scheme, even if they only have one employee. The burden of paying insurance premiums is shared between both the employer 5
and employee. Foreign nationals who have permission to work are also eligible to join the scheme. Those who are employed for less than 31 days, or less than 20 hours per week, or who were hired outside Japan to work in Japan are not eligible to be insured. To receive unemployment benefits In principle, the individual must have been insured for a total of at least 12 months over the past two years, and they must have both the desire and the ability to find new employment in order to receive benefits. (3) Social Insurance There are two parts to social health insurance: (1) health insurance, including social health insurance, national health insurance and nursing-care insurance, and (2) pension insurance (employee pension insurance, the national pension plan). Individual employed at companies, factories, stores, corporate offices, etc., enter the social health insurance and employee pension insurance through their employer. a. Social Health Insurance Social Health Insurance... Contact the Social Insurance Office for your place of employment National Health Insurance... Itabashi City Hall, National Insurance Section This system is intended to provide social stability in times of illness or injury by providing medical treatment benefits and allowances. All corporate bodies must enter this insurance system. The burden of paying premiums is shared equally between the employer and employee. The self-employed, farmers and fishermen and the unemployed should enter the National Health Insurance scheme (kokumin kenko hoken), which is managed by their city, ward, town or village of residency. National Health Insurance premiums are paid in family units to the city, ward, town or village office. (Contact should be made at your city, ward, town or village office.) Individuals who are in Japan on a short-term visa are not eligible to apply to enroll in National Health Insurance. b. Welfare Pension Insurance Employee Pension Insurance... Contact should be made at the Social Insurance Office for the address of your place of employment. National Pension... Itabashi City hall, National Pension Section This is a system which workers at companies, factories and shops join. The main purpose of this system is to ensure the social security of workers in their old age; however, it also offers social security to those who can no longer work due to injury or illness and to surviving family members of workers who have died. All corporate bodies must join this system. The burden of premium payments is shared between the employer and the employee. The amount of insurance premiums varies according to the amount of your wages (income). (Contact should be made at the social insurance office for the address of your place of employment). The self-employed, farmers, fishermen, students and the unemployed who cannot join the Employees Pension scheme should join the National Pension scheme. (Contact should be made at your city, ward, town or village office.) 6
(4) Labor Consultation The following institutions can be contacted for information on labor laws and worker s compensation. Tokyo Metropolitan Labor Advisory and Information Center Tokyo Work Center 9 th Floor, 3-10-3 Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku Telephone: 03-3265-6110 English: Mon to Fri, 2:00PM - 4:00PM Chinese: Tues, Wed & Thurs, 2:00PM - 4:00PM Tokyo Labor Union 12, 13 and 14 th Floors, 1-2-1 Kudan Minami, Chiyoda-ku Telephone: 03-3512-1612 English: Mon, Wed & Fri, 10:00AM - 3:00PM (off from between 12:00PM to 1:00PM) Chinese: Tue & Thurs, 10:00AM - 3:00PM (off from between 12:00PM to 1:00PM) 7
Services applicable to Itabashi City Residents Industrial Promotion Section, Industry Support Group, Information Processing Center 5F, Telephone: 03-3579-2172 (1) Small and Mid-sized Business Advisory Window This advisory corner provides consultation on small and mid-sized business management. (Services available in Japanese only.) Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00AM - 12:00PM, 1:00PM - 5:00PM (reservation required) (2) Itabashi City Industrial Loan System Itabashi city has a low interest loan system available for small and mid sized companies that are from Itabashi City or who will come from outside Itabashi that are going to open up a business in Itabashi. In order to reduce the amount of interest paid, the local government provides a partial subsidy. * Small & medium size businesses: This loan system is for businesses that have had a commercial address in Itabashi for one year or longer. While it does not matter whether or not the business is a corporation or in sole proprietorship, corporations must be registered in Itabashi and their place of activity must also be Itabashi, and entities in sole propriertorship must have declared it to the tax offices using the blue form, etc. 8