Living in Japan

When you begin working in Japan, it is important to know the Japanese laws and systems related to labour. In this page, we'll explain these systems and lay out information useful to foreign residents of Japan.

The Japanese government has a full set of insurance systems that provides extensive coverage. Enrollment is mandatory for these public schemes. In many cases, the employers are required by law to enroll, and the insurance cost is deducted from the emolyee's salary along with taxes. This means that the salary you are actually paid will be less than what is in the contract.
This amount, with deductions including taxes and social insurance, is referred to as your tedori or take-home pay(net salary). Workers' accident compensation insurance fee, on the other hand, is covered entirely by the employer. This fee should never be deducted from wages.

The following online resources from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare explains working conditions, workers safety and health, minimum wage, employment contracting, and workers’ accident compensation insurance.

If a worker suffers injury, illness, or death due to work or commute, there is payout of necessary insurance to the worker or the bereaved family. For more on the process of filing a compensation claim, please refer to the guide in the next page.

If you have questions about labour relations, start with the point of contact below.

The Japanese government is working continuously to compile a list of healthcare providers that can better serve non-Japanese patients. If you prefer to communicate in your native language when receiving services from a healthcare provider, you can search through the JNTO website below.