I’m a Japanese citizen. Despite the title, I’m writing this for my foreign friend because I’m shocked about their situation.
They recently got a job that said they can sponsor their visa, which they need because their current visa ends in a couple of months. They’ve been hesitant to speak up, but the company seems to be breaking several labor laws.
They’re contracted as part-time but actually work 8–5, Monday to Friday, which is basically full-time work. They’re paid ¥1,200/hour–minimum wage. From what they can tell now, they assume their visa sponsorship is dependent on meeting KPIs (even though the company doesn't say it), so they feel pressured to accept unreasonable demands:
– The company made them do three full weeks of mandatory training, 8–5, ALL UNPAID. They felt they couldn’t refuse.
– They’re expected to do the work of 3–4 people. During office hours, they have to manage several ongoing projects, prepare reports, and coordinate with another department, but the workload is so heavy that they often end up staying past 5 or taking work home, all unpaid. On top of that, they’re expected to complete two major tasks entirely on their own time, outside office hours, also unpaid. Everything is still compensated at minimum wage.
Essentially, they’re being exploited because the company knows they need a visa. From what I understand, a lot of this violates the Labor Standards Act.
What’s the best way for them to handle this? This clearly seems like a black company. Any advice or experiences from people who’ve dealt with similar labor issues in Japan would be really helpful.
by trashijordii