Consultation Examples

• I am looking for a job.
• How can foreign students studying in Japan get information on employment opportunities?
• I am a foreigner studying in Japan. Can I have a part-time job?
• I was injured while working at my workplace. Am I eligible for Workmen’s Accident Compensation Insurance?
• What is Employment Insurance? Can foreign workers subscribe to this insurance?
• A company I was working for went bankrupt, and I have not been paid one month's wages. What can I do?
• My company suddenly fired me. What can I do?
• I was dismissed from a company I worked for over a 3-year period. What procedure should I follow to receive Unemployment benefits?

I am looking for a job.

When looking for a job, you can browse through want ads in newspapers etc. or you can use the Nagoya Employment Service Center for Foreigners and Hello-Work (Public Employment Security Office) and the like. If you are going to use an information desk in any of these offices, you must present your passport and/or Residence card to confirm your status of residence and period of stay.

You can also browse through information on job offers posted by Hello-Work via the Internet. The website address is: https://www.hellowork.mhlw.go.jp/member/mem_top.html

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How can foreign students studying in Japan get information on employment opportunities?

You should address this question to personnel at your university in charge of foreign students or job placement.

Other than that, you may be able to collect information by perusing job information magazines or by attending job seminars. Also, you can look for a job at the Nagoya Employment Service Center for Foreigners.

Nagoya Employment Service Center for Foreigners　https://jsite.mhlw.go.jp/aichi-foreigner/

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I am a foreigner studying in Japan. Can I have a part-time job?

A foreign student who wishes to work part-time must obtain permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the current status of residence. Work hours should be no more than 28 hours per week (no more than 8 hours per day during long term vacation in the educational organization).

The required documents are as follows.

1. Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted Under the Status of Residence Previously Granted (available at regional immigration bureaus)
2. Document(s) clarifying the activity to be permitted (not necessary if your status of residence is “Student,” “Dependent” or “Designated Activities” (in some cases) and you are applying for comprehensive permission)
3. Residence card
4. Your passport

You can have them transferred to your new passport at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau. For more information, please contact the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau or the Immigration Information Center.

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I was injured while working at my workplace. Am I eligible for Workmen’s Accident Compensation Insurance?

Even foreign workers (including illegal ones) can be compensated under Workmen’s Accident Compensation Insurance.

With this Insurance, benefits are paid for illness, injury, disorder and death suffered during work or commutation. Even a company employing only one worker is required to subscribe to Workmen’s Accident Compensation Insurance. If your company does not apply the Insurance to you, contact the Labor Standards Supervision Office presiding over your company or the Advisor for Foreign Workers at the Aichi Labor Bureau.

Advisor for Foreign Workers
Aichi Labour Bureau Labour Standards Department Inspection Division

TEL	052-972-0253
Language	Portuguese（Tue-Fri）, English（Tue, Thu）
Open	9：30-12：00, 13：00-16：00

Toyohashi Labour Standards Inspection Office

TEL	0532-54-1192
Language	Portuguese（Tue-Thu）
Open	9：30-12：00, 13：00-16：00

Kariya Labour Standards Inspection Office

TEL	0566-21-4885
Language	Portuguese（Mon, Thu）
Open	9：30-12：00, 13：00-16：00

Nagoya Nishi Labour Standards Inspection Office

TEL	052-481-9533
Language	Vietnamese （Thu）
Open	9：30-12：00, 13：00-16：00

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What is Employment Insurance? Can foreign workers subscribe to this insurance?

Under the Employment Insurance System unemployment benefits are provided to those who lose their jobs to support their re-employment activities and thus to secure the life and employment of the workers.

Those who have been hired by an establishment in Japan and meet certain requirements will be covered by the Employment Insurance System. Foreign workers are no exception. However, those who will be hired after he/she becomes 65 years old, and part-time and other employees who work less than 20 hours per week are not included.

An insurance card is handed through the employer.

The Employment Insurance includes basic benefits (Kihon Teate) which are given for 90 to 360-day period after leaving jobs. Procedures to obtain this benefits are to be taken after leaving jobs.

For more information, contact the nearest Public Employment Security Office (Hello-Work).

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A company I was working for went bankrupt, and I have not been paid one month's wages. What can I do?

Workers' wages are the key to making a living, and are given higher priority than any other claimable assets in the Japanese Civil Code. In the Civil Code, claims for unpaid wages are prioritized over other claims.

On the matter of unpaid wages, the Labor Standards Supervision Office nearest to you presiding over the company will honor your request for consultation. Bring along someone who understands Japanese.

The following Labour Standards Inspection Offices provide multilingual consultations.

Advisor for Foreign Workers

Aichi Labour Bureau Labour Standards Department Inspection Division

TEL	052-972-0253
Language	Portuguese（Tue-Fri）, English（Tue, Thu）
Open	9：30-12：00, 13：00-16：00

Toyohashi Labour Standards Inspection Office

TEL	0532-54-1192
Language	Portuguese（Tue-Thu）
Open	9：30-12：00, 13：00-16：00

Kariya Labour Standards Inspection Office

TEL	0566-21-4885
Language	Portuguese（Mon, Thu）
Open	9：30-12：00, 13：00-16：00

Nagoya Nishi Labour Standards Inspection Office

TEL	052-481-9533
Language	Vietnamese （Thu）
Open	9：30-12：00, 13：00-16：00

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My company suddenly fired me. What can I do?

The Labor Standards Law provides that, when a company wants to dismiss a worker, the worker must be notified, as a rule, at least 30 days before dismissal.

If a company fails to do so, it is required to pay a dismissal allowance.

Depending on the reason for your dismissal, your dismissal may be considered unjustifiable under the law. You should consult with personnel at the Labor Consultation for Foreign Workers in the Labor Standards Supervising Office presiding over your company, or in the Aichi Labor Bureau.

Be careful of being absent from the company without notice, or of receiving a payment for immediate dismissal or for retirement after being told of your dismissal, since your acceptance of such payment is regarded as consent to the dismissal.

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I was dismissed from a company I worked for over a 3-year period. What procedure should I follow to receive Unemployment benefits?

When separating from a Japanese company for personal reasons or due to dismissal, foreign workers can receive unemployment benefits if they fulfill the following conditions and are approved by Hello Work.

If your status of residence is "short stay" or "intracompany transferee", however, you are not eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits.

<Requirements>

1. You must have paid Unemployment Insurance premiums for more than 12 months over the two-year period before you leave the company (more than 6 months over one-year period in case of leaving the company due to bankruptcy, dismissal, stop on employment etc.)
2. It must be confirmed that you have lost the qualification as an insured person due to your leaving the
3. It must be evident that you cannot find a job even if you would like to be employed.

To receive Unemployment Insurance benefits you should apply for job searching at Hello Work and obtain the eligibility for the benefit and should visit Hello Work office on the days (every 28 days) designated by Hello Work office.

The required documents are as follows.

1. Separation Notice–1 and 2 (Given by the employer after you become unemployed)
2. A document proving your My Number (My Number Card, Notification Card, or Certificate of Residence with My Number)
3. ID (My Number Card, Residence card, etc.)
4. 2 photographs (3 cm x 2.5 cm)
5. Ordinary savings account book in your name
6. Seal (or handwritten signature)

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