I found a new job, but my current company has put me in a really bad situation before I can even start it.
My contract says 200,000 yen a month. When I first joined, there was also talk of 230,000, but the written contract I have says 200,000. My first salary ended up being around 160,000, and this month I only got 110,000. They never properly gave me payslips even though I asked multiple times, and whenever I ask for a breakdown, they avoid the question.
Recently they told me I need to find another job, switched me to a shift-based system, and now they are not even giving me shifts. So I’m basically stuck in limbo. I still have rent, food, and basic living costs, but they’ve left me with almost no income before I can move to the new job.
I live alone in Japan and I don’t really have anyone to rely on here. That’s the part that’s hitting me the hardest. I did my work, finished my tasks, and tried to handle everything properly, but right now I just feel like I’ve been pushed aside and left to deal with the consequences alone.
I’m trying to figure out what I can actually do here.
Has anyone in Japan dealt with a company not giving payslips, cutting pay, or suddenly giving no shifts like this? Is there any legal action I should take, and is there any short-term support I can apply for just to get through this period until my new job starts?
I appreciate any help or advice
by Key_Wait_1745
9 comments
Black company, they should feel ashamed.
From Google:
To report a “black company” (exploitative workplace) in Japan, contact the Labor Standards Inspection Office (Roudou Kijun Kantokusho) for violations like unpaid overtime, or the Prefectural Labour Bureau for harassment. Free, confidential advice is available in English via the Labour Standards Advice Hotline at 0120-932-609.
As for short term help, there are many for example this one:
Emergency Small Amount Fund (緊急小口資金)
Type: A one-time, interest-free loan of up to ¥100,000 (or ¥200,000 in specific cases).
Eligibility: Targeted at households facing an urgent, temporary drop in income (including those affected by the long-term impact of COVID-19).
Application: Contact your local Municipal Social Welfare Council (Shakai Fukushi Kyogikai).
Best is to ask Google first imo.
For your future: don’t accept any salary less than 250.000 at least, check the company well before joining because the first big red flag was talking about 230k and then it was only 200k before deducting pension and health insurance.
Your base salary was 200,000. But you received 160,000. That’s because they deducted taxes and health insurance/pension, as is required by law. They should of course be giving you a break down of that either in a paper pay slip or in an email. Do you have your social security info? A health insurance card?
Either way, go to labor standards with any info you have, to clear this up. Adulting is hard.
Good luck dude.
Are you sure you have absolutely no family or friends back home to give you a short term loan? I know it’s extremely rough asking for money, especially from people you haven’t seen in potentially years, but this is the time when support structures are really the fastest and easiest option. Get copies of your paystubs and your new job contract ready to prove you aren’t just asking to take advantage of people and they are more likely to say yes.
Also I know this has no value to you now, but for the future you want at least 3x your monthly spending in savings so a gap in employment doesn’t become an immediate problem. That can potentially be a very hard goal to achieve at a low income, but the peace of mind is worth the struggle every time.
Good Luck Bro, I don’t know what to suggest you… Adulting sucks & it more sucks when you got no option & had to adjust
What type of job is this?
It’s illegal for them to refuse to give you payslips.
Other people didn’t mention this, but I’m kinda in the same situation salary-wise and what they do is split your salary up into base salary, overtime, and allowances. If your take-home salary is much lower, it’s likely they cut the allowances. Cutting allowances is legal as far as I’m aware, but I wonder if their reluctance to show your payslips is related to that.
Your Ice Coin scam didn’t pan out?
if you have a signed contract, and you think there was a breach on that contract, go to the labor and show your proofs of the breach of the contract that you signed. if they suddenly sent you lower salary,
print that out and show it as proof that you’re not getting what you signed up for. usually monthly salary deductions will be at 4万円〜6万円 for health insurance and other taxes.
if you’re on a “training period” though, your work can still be changed and they have the right to not push through with your employment if they deem that you’re not at par with their standards.
if you’re alone with no one to help you, you can always go to the labor, they have hotlines for english speaking reps, they will always help you.
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