Unfair Treatment/Unpaid Wages

In these trying times, many plans and financial situations have changed. With this in mind, we have put together this piece to point you in places where you can get help to soften the current economic climate.

If you believe your employer has mistreated you can contact POSSE. POSSE is an NPO that helps foreigners with labor law issues. Even if you are able to speak fluent Japanese, using legal terms or trying to understand them will still be difficult. Therefore, if you are having trouble regarding the labor laws, you can call or even visit them. As luck would have it, their main office is in Tokyo but they also have an office in Sendai. You can find their location information and contacts here. If you are worried about cost, don’t be, they will give a free consultation over the phone.

Sometimes it feels as if labor rights are absent to foreigners, however, this is not true. The Japan Institute for Labor, Policy, and Training JILPT explains labor laws and rules within Japan. The material is heavy but if you are feeling aggrieved; it is a good place to check if you have a case or not.

Job Search in Sendai

Are you unemployed? If you are, you can start your job search at Hello Work, the Japanese government’s public service employment agency. Hello Work is nationwide. Their services are mostly in Japanese  (but don’t allow this to be a deterrent). I used the service in the past and they provided a translator to help with the process. There are branches throughout Miyagi. Maybe there is one nearby.

Sendai English also has a curated job list. Please feel free to peruse.

Money from the Government

I hope you have all heard by now about the one-time payment of 100,000 yen to all residents in Japan. Yes, if you are the holder of a residence card, you are eligible for this one-time payment of 100,000 yen. The Government says the money should be ready by May.

These are very trying times, but we can survive and thrive nonetheless. However, it is very important that we realize that we are not alone. We just need to take it one day at a time.