Jon's Note:
Here is some good information for those inquiring about working in Japan.
"Minimum wage" for foreigners' working in Japan is 250000 yen a month. As
of beginning December, 1997, the exchange rate was at a five year low at
about 130 yen to the USD (you figure it out in USD). Things in Japan will
probably get worse before -- and if it gets better.
Here an individual is offered the following:
167,000 yen per month and a 2 month bonus at the end of one year
(27,800yen/month). RT ticket (100,000 yen) =8,500/month Furnished
apartment (Japanese style) 50,000 to 70,000 Phone fee per month 3,000 ( I
pay for the calls I make and all other additional utilities such as heat and
electricity).
They also offer Japanese style lunch and dinner for 2,000 per month. They
cover all transportation from and to the school.
They claim that most of their teachers, by living carefully, can save most
of their salaries because of their overall setup. Again this job is 6 days a
week, 25-30 hrs per week, 15-17 classroom teaching, plus I have to do extra
activities such as parties, camp and socials. They do allow for me to
moonlight after school but only after the first three months and in the
months of December and August.
They also control what I charge. I can not charge more than 3,000 yen for
one student, 4,000 for two, 5,000 for three or more. The rate for teaching
a 60 min class unlimited number of students is 6,500 and of this the teacher
receives 3,000 plus cab fare.
OK, once again does this make the contract look better or is it still
a bad deal?
Hi Jon,
Feel free to place this on your webpage.
Regards,
Dr. Thomas L. Simmons
Kanto Teachers' Unions' Federation Board
2-28-10-303 Morigaoka, Isogoku, Yokohama 235 JAPAN
Fax: 81 45 845 8242; Email: malang@gol.com
An individual posted a request for information on a contract in Japan. There
have been a number of responses. I am certain that those people took time
and wrote in good faith so I do not want to come across as if I am shoving
this in anyone's face. People like Paul B. gave it an honest shot and I
want those folks to know that I write this not to thumb my nose (you all
know how easy it is to infer flames on the net) but in the hopes that those
who are here or thinking of coming will be better prepared. I get no money
for taking my time here and so this as a natural extension of my
professional ethics. After 10 years of watching and dealing with these
disputes I can say conclusively that this contract is significantly lower
than average and teachers who take these contracts are lowering the
national average and seriously compromising themselves. Most of the folks
who take these positions end up leaving Japan very disappointed or sitting
in the Union Offices listening aghast as they learn of the snow job for
which they fell. Here are my original comments with goodwill to all and
some additional added since then:
From: "Thomas L. Simmons"
Subject: Re: Advice on a contract
>Dear Dr. Simmons,
>I am about to sign a contract, but I decided to look at the internet job
>posting for comparing salaries in Japan. I saw your write up on AEON
>my contract sounds worse than theirs. I will be teaching for a primary,
>afterschool program
>in Sendai-shi. The work hours are 25 per week and 15 hrs of actual
>classroom teaching.
That is fine if that is all at one time, five days in a row -- many schools
do not give a two day weekend, they split it. No long breaks that will take
most of the day: Many schools will have you work a split shift and the
split is in the middle of your shift. 15 contact hours will be tiring after
three or four months when the novelty wears off. You do not want anymore.
>Furnished Japanese style apartment (small).
Furnished is often a ploy to make you think it is furnished. It is usually
a futon and that is it. Phone can be really expensive. You have to pay
about a 1000 dollar deposit (you can get it back when you leave but it may
take a while).
>RT airfare
Mandated by law. Not their idea. You will need to fly back within a
predetermined time. Usually the default period which is two weeks after the
job finishes.
>Health insurance 70% they pay 1/2 of premiums.
Mandated by law. Not their idea. It is part of the deal--very basic and
should not be simply added to the overall total to make your salary look
better. By the way, the physicians I know in the States have told me that
if I am really sick, to get on a plane and return to the States. I can
vouch for that. As can health care personal here in Japan and Sumo
wrestlers and Diet members who go to the States for care. So health
insurance is really not much of a bonus. For emergencies like hepatitis you
are stuck here. If you do take this job, get a list of good doctors in your
area who interned in the UK or the States. Japanese doctors operate on the
principle that they know all and the patient is incapable of understanding
anything so they are not entitled to any explanation. I have had it out
with doctors in teaching hospitals who were prescribing antibiotics without
any real knowledge of the limitations or the contraindications associated
with the pharmaceuticals.
>2 month bonus at the end of the first year
This is actually a "bo-na-su" and not a 'bonus.' Usually these companies
attach all kinds of strings to this. They may fire you before the contract
is finished and claim that they do not have to pay you since you did not
complete the contract. In addition, this "bo-na-su" is often used to get
around the Ministry of Justice Guidelines of 3,000,000 yen per year
minimum. And if they tack it on at the end, it looks like you are being
treated the way the local labour force is treated and you are getting the
minimum. Make no mistake, they are not offering you a 'bonus.' They are
paring your whole salary and restructuring their contract to pay lip
service to 'usual and customary' and keep the Ministry of Labour (MoL) and
the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) off their backs. FYI: Japanese "bo-na-su" is
not a bonus that Yanks or Brits would recognise. It is an interest-free
loan that they take from the employee--i.e. deferred wages--not a bonus.
The formula is to divide the 12 months salary into 14, 18 or however many
portions and then dole out single portions monthly withholding the unpaid
portion for two "bo-na-su" payments at two specific times a year. The
company uses this to garner interest on your money while not paying
interest to the employee.
>167,000 yen per month
OOOOOooooo. Not enough! That should be a gross of 250,000 per month and
3,000,000 per year. That is the legal minimum. A Visa will be tough to get
without it. In fact, NOTE THIS WELL: THE CONTRACT MUST SPECIFY THAT THE
EMPLOYEE IS GETTING THE MINIMUM. IF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE SEES THIS SUM
THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT. ERGO THE COMPANY WILL BE PROVIDING A DIFFERENT
CONTRACT TO THE MINISTRY AND THE OTHER ONE WILL BE OFFERED TO JANET. IN THE
EVENT OF A DISPUTE, WHICH WILL BE IN THE BALIWICK OF THE MINISTRY OF
LABOUR, AND MOL WILL GO WITH THE ONE JANET SIGNED AND NOT THE ONE HANDED TO
THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE.
Your formula here is 14 x 167,000 = 2,338,000 (twelve months salary plus
two months "bo-na-su" so there is a great big chunk missing from the
3,000,000 yen minimum. Methinks that they will add it on paper somewhere
else and claim that you agreed to it and that the contract meets government
guidelines. They could be tacking on the cost of the apartment and the
insurance premium, their share that is, as the sum total that will bring
this up to specs.
167,000 in Sendai City won't buy WalMart Toffy for tea. That is not good.
250,000 is minimum lifestyle. A loaf of bread (not the stuff that they sell
to the unsuspecting public and mice won't eat -- no kidding, they won't) is
about 400-650 yen. Eggs are about 200 yen per 10 (they do not sell in
dozens here). Beer is 220 per can (so a six pack is 1320yen (at 129 yen per
dollar that is $10.23 a six-pack!)). A liter of milk (about a pint) is
usually about 200 yen. Cheap beef (crock pot stuff, fine if you like that)
is about 1000 yen /500 grams (about a pound). Chicken is about 75-80 yen
per 100 grams (about 3 to 3.25 US$ per pound) Tomatoes are about 50 to 100
yen each (seasonal), fruit and veges are always high. Rice is over the top.
Unless you are planning on losing a lot of weight, the salary they are
proposing to pay you will be a serious problem. I got much better than this
in Kofu, Yamanashi in 1987-88 and it was not nearly enough. The government
will take 10%, the local government will take about as much, the sales tax
is going up to 5%. If you send money home they really gouge you for
conversion and then again for sending it. Unless you are really in dire
straits, don't take this job. Which buy the way, is often the way it is.
Desparate people take these jobs frequently and are seriously compromised
when they get here. I tell people who come to the union for help that they
will need 6 months of salary in the bank if they are in a dispute or
thinking of quitting their current jobs.
If you are planing on saving money, remember that the current rate of
exchange of about 129 yen per dollar puts this at 18,124 US$ in a country
that is at least twice as expensive as the one you are in now. Real buying
power is about 9,000 US$. And that is before taxes! Net will be about
1,987,300 yen the first year and will drop the second year because the
local taxes will start to kick in as they assess you according to the
previous year's gross. So the second year will be about 1,870,400 yen or
less. In current dollars that is about 14,499 US$. Buying power will be
about 7,000 US$.
Why take it? If you have enough money to augment this pitiful salary, you
can use this opportunity to poke around and take a look see at what else is
out there. But the economy and this vocation in particular are not in good
shape.
>I have a TEFL certificate and 21/2 years teaching overseas with the Peace
>Corps.
That should be worth something. Certainly more than 9,000 US$ per year,
before taxes.
>Should I not sign this contract?
Knowing what I know and how to get around, I would. I would suss it out and
then scarper if it did not work out. Your Visa is yours for the entire year
and the company can not cancel it. You get a trip over (they won't pay for
return) and you may find a better job. They are using your ignorance to
supply cheap labour. Also, you might be able to take on private students or
work for another company but these bush league outfits usually claim to
have the right to prevent you from doing this (a good reason to leave them).
But then that is just knowing what I know. Being in an union would be a
good idea. You have a lot of disadvantages here though. Sendai is out of
the way. I hear very good things about it though. Never been there.
Regards,
Dr. Thomas L. Simmons
Kanto Teachers' Unions' Federation Board
2-28-10-303 Morigaoka, Isogoku, Yokohama 235 JAPAN
Fax: 81 45 845 8242; Email: malang@gol.com