How the Japanese work how many hours. How long is the working week in different countries? About foreigners in Japan

So, the eight-hour working day came to an end. The most important work for today is done, and everything else can wait until morning. Almost every employee thinks so when leaving the office in the evening. But not the millions of employees of Japanese corporations, for whom leaving work to be home in time for dinner can lead to serious accusations of lack of loyalty to their company.

According to 2016 data, almost a quarter of Japanese employers allow their employees to work 80 hours a month. Moreover, these overtime working hours are not paid, because employees go to this own will. In addition to everything, the Japanese do not rest for the time set for them by law, and if they take their legal paid vacation in full, they feel guilty.

How many work in different countries of the world?

The latest labor market surveys by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) cover the number of official working hours per year in 38 countries around the world. It is noteworthy that countries such as Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg are among the last positions in the list, while the leaders are Mexico, Costa Rica and South Korea.

Table of working hours in some countries of the world

The country	Working hours per year	The country	Working hours per year
Mexico		Spain
Costa Rica		Great Britain
South Korea		Australia
Greece		Finland
Russia		Sweden
Poland		Austria
Israel		Switzerland
Turkey		Luxembourg
USA		France
Czech		Norway
Italy		Denmark
Japan		Germany
Canada

According to official figures, Japan is not in first place in the world in terms of the number of working hours, but this is official. If you add overtime of 80 hours a month to them, you get more than 2,500 hours a year. So Japanese employees will leave workers from other countries far behind.

"Death by Recycling"

The term "karoshi" means "sudden death from work fatigue". "Karoshi" in Japan may be officially listed as the cause of death in documents.

An employee of the largest Japanese advertising holding Dentsu died suddenly at the workplace in 2015. The cause of death was then recognized as depression due to work overload. This incident attracted widespread attention and public condemnation of Japan's usual endless overtime.

Dentsu was fined for gross violations of labor laws, as facts of 100-hour monthly overtime were revealed. Later, Dentsu changed the approach to the working hours of its staff. So, for example, blackouts were introduced in offices after 22:00 so that employees would not stay late.

Now the Japanese authorities and employers are active work in the fight against Karoshi. The government has legally limited the number of hours spent in offices and introduced mandatory rest between the end of the previous and the start of a new working day.

In 2016, a new holiday appeared in Japan - Mountain Day. It is dedicated to the numerous mountains of this country, and by decision of the authorities has become an annual official holiday. Thus, the number of public holidays per year for the Japanese will increase to 16. Holidays in Japan are considered a generous gift from the government to dedicated workers. In May, for example, during the so-called Golden Week, three holidays are celebrated: Greenery Day, Constitution Day and Children's Day. At this time, business life in the country practically freezes.

Not so long ago, the government of the country introduced the so-called "Premium Friday", when employees are allowed to leave work at 15:00 on the last Friday of every month. However, according to polls, only 4% of Japanese employees leave their jobs so early. Usually for work office workers in Japan they come half an hour earlier, at 8:30, and finish work late in the evening. For them, this country has special stores where you can buy clean shirt, and capsule hotels where you can spend the night, if you go home after work, it makes no sense.

Working people in Japan avoid taking long vacations, unlike people in European countries who usually like to go on vacation for a few weeks. Some Japanese employees admit that they experience anxiety and anxiety when they leave their workplace for a long time. The Japanese do not count their holidays in weeks, but only in days. In the same way that they try to prolong their working hours by staying at work, they do the same with vacations, reducing them to the maximum in order to get back to work as soon as possible.

Instead of a summer vacation, they prefer to take a few days of rest in August during the traditional three-day Obon festival and new year holidays, which in Japan last from December 29 to January 3.

The power of tradition

The main reasons why the inhabitants of the Japanese islands are workaholics are the seniority system and commitment to the team. The amount of time worked determines the possibility of further promotion and is often more important than the quality of the work performed.

In Japan, open offices are insanely popular, when desktops are grouped in such a way that employees form separate teams. Each such team has a leader who determines the tasks for the day. Every Japanese office has two meetings every day, one by the top manager and the other by the leader of each group of employees.

The management style in Japan is based on the concept of "group accordion". The main thing is to achieve agreement among employees, in which any idea submitted for consideration by senior management is first thoroughly studied and discussed in the group. Proposal approval working group helps to avoid condemnation of the employee by management, because any even the most insignificant public condemnation for the Japanese is considered a disaster.

Japan has always stood out from the list of countries that are characterized by high growth rates. economic development. This eastern state successfully fights with any crises and cataclysms. This happens, among other things, thanks to the hard work, as well as the diligence of its citizens. Purposefulness, ideology and responsibility are brought up in Japan from the very early age. It is no coincidence that the management systems developed in this country are recognized throughout the world as the most effective, which is why they are used as a benchmark in many large enterprises.

Features of employment

Immigrants who come to Japan have to join the excessive requirements of the employer and the peculiar national mentality. For those who do not wish to do this, the company quickly finds a replacement.

The Japanese most often get a job for life. That is, having come to the enterprise as a young man, they are in his staff until their retirement. If you want to find a job in another company, the new employer will take into account the time of the previous continuous contract.

Japan is considered a country that is quite closed to immigrants. Indeed, when applying for a highly paid prestigious job, you will need not only to be a true professional, but also to have a fairly high level of knowledge of the Japanese language. But, of course, when considering candidates for vacant position preference will always be given to the indigenous people of the country. In order to get a job in Japan, you will need to prove your extraordinary abilities. And for this, confirming high documents will obviously not be enough. It is recommended to prepare the brightest self-created projects in advance by translating them into Japanese so that they can be presented.

Occupation rating

What kind of specialists does the labor market of the Land of the Rising Sun need today? work in Japan without special efforts can find:

IT specialists. It is quite easy to explain the demand for such professions in a country that is a leader in the development of electronic technologies. However, an immigrant should already prepare in advance for a big competition. The fact is that Japan has a lot of its own professionals. The most demanded specialties from this category are project managers and developers.
Designers and architects. It is enough just to get a job in Japanese companies and good specialists from this field. Moreover, employers are happy to attract professionals from among immigrants for cooperation. It is worth noting that in this regard, this is one of the few categories of specialists that deserve such a favorable attitude towards themselves.
Trade professionals. The most popular specialty in this category are sales managers. Japanese firms and sales representatives, freight forwarders and other workers in this field are invited. However, it should be borne in mind that in order to fill a vacancy, you will need not only work experience in your specialty, but also an excellent command of the Japanese language.
Management staff. Such employees form the backbone of Japanese business. The fact is that obtaining evolutionary results of economic development is impossible without proper planning labor and time of workers. In this regard, Japanese employers highly value specialists in recruitment, planning and management. However, it should be borne in mind that in this area, the indigenous people of the country are still easier to navigate. But at the same time, foreign experience in implementing modern systems management may also be of interest to the employer.
Marketing and PR specialists. Advertising is the engine of progress. The Japanese do not neglect this rule either. In addition to project managers, the country needs managers working in this direction. However, only the person who, in addition to experience, will be fluent in Japanese, will be able to work in the advertising field.
Electronics. For Japanese employers, specialists who are able to work in production are of particular value. household appliances, road vehicles, in shipbuilding and in instrument making.
Production personnel. Such specialists are needed by many large Japanese companies operating in the field of food and beverages. pharmaceutical industry, machine tool building and mechanical engineering. So far, in this country, full automation of production is a prospect for the future. That is why immigrants will always be able to find work for themselves in any factory. Here, as a rule, technicians and operators for automated production lines are required. However, despite the fact that specialists in this category can quite successfully find employment in the country, it is necessary to clarify the requirements that the employer imposes on candidates. Often they are required to obtain a diploma of technical education.
Consultants and teachers. These specialists are also in demand in the state. Here you can even get a job as a teacher of the Russian language. But lately there have been a lot of applicants for such a vacancy, so you have to wait for a suitable place for years. Teachers can get jobs in Japan without any problems in English. However, if their place of work is educational establishments, then a license to teach will be required from the specialist.
Accountants and financiers. No organization can do without these workers. That is why they are also included in the category of the most in-demand professions in Japan. But knowledge of the language for people who decide to apply for such a vacancy is a prerequisite.
Pharmacists and healthcare professionals. This category of specialists in Japan is considered one of the most privileged. Most clinics in the country are private. Thanks to this, wages in Japan medical worker approaching 760,000 yen for one month. In terms of dollars, this amount will be 6400. However, it is almost impossible for an immigrant to get a job as a doctor in this country. The fact is that diplomas from other countries confirming the receipt of this profession are not quoted in Japan. To obtain permission to work as a doctor, you will need to graduate from a medical school directly in this country.

Work mentality

Every resident of Japan certainly follows the traditions that have developed in the country for many centuries. If we consider the attitude of the indigenous population of the country to work, then it can be noted that it has certain qualities. Among them are politeness and loyalty, personal responsibility, as well as the ability to work effectively within a certain work team.

The main goal of the Japanese is to benefit the company, while working as a kind of cog in one well-coordinated large mechanism. Individuality in this country is not welcome. Those loners who are guided by the principle "my hut is on the edge" have no chance of success. Highly educated, but at the same time ambitious people are less valuable personnel for management than those who, although not so educated, are patient and open to compromise. Why is this happening? Yes, simply because the Japanese do not believe that money can be given to people simple ways. He who does not work hard, they will not respect.

By the way, many Europeans complain that their life practically passes at work. But is it? How long is the working day in Japan? This should be clarified in advance to those who decided to take one of the vacancies in this country.

Start of the working day

Daily weekdays begin with the inhabitants of Japan with a trip. They hurry to the place of work, using, as a rule, public transport. Most residents of this state refuse to use a car. They do this to save money. After all, the maintenance of a personal car will cost them about 10 thousand dollars. And that's just for one month! And is it worth it to use a private car in a country that has the best public transport system on our planet?

However, in large cities, the Japanese pay for such savings with tedious trips to work in wagons filled in relation to their estimated capacity by 200%. Nevertheless, such a morning ritual does not at all cause irritation among the indigenous inhabitants of the country, which they would have taken out on a neighbor.

Coming to work

The Japanese begin with a kind of ritual. It includes more than just greetings to superiors and colleagues. The ritual of starting the day includes the joint chanting of various inspiring sayings and slogans by employees. Only after that you can start performing production tasks.

What time does a working day start in Japan? Officially, most companies in the country have the same schedule. It provides for the beginning of the working day at 9 o'clock, and its end at 18 o'clock. Nevertheless, most Japanese people arrive at their workplace at least half an hour earlier. It is believed that the employee needs time to tune in to work.

Currently, many corporations have introduced a system of temporary cards. What does she represent? Each employee has a special card. It must be lowered into the device installed in front of the entrance upon arrival at work and at the time of leaving it. The card reflects the time that affects wages in Japan. Some firms deduct one hour of work for being 1 minute late. There are corporations when in this case the employee will not be given a salary for the whole day.

Work days

How long is a working day in Japan? Officially 8 o'clock. There is also a lunch break in the country. Its duration is 1 hour. Thus, the standard work contract specifies 40 hours per week.

However, the length of the working day in Japan, as a rule, exceeds these limits. This is influenced by another tradition of the inhabitants of the country. The point is that the climb career ladder is of great importance to them. And climbing these steps, as a rule, does not depend at all on the qualifications and ingenuity of the employee, but on the amount of time during which he does not leave his chair. It is because of this that the length of the working day in Japan is far from official. Employees often stay late to complete assignments in the evenings. In this regard, the duration of the working day in Japan sometimes reaches 12 hours. Moreover, the inhabitants of the country do this mainly on their own initiative. In addition, despite the fact that the working week in Japan lasts only five days, employees come to the company on Saturdays. And this is also most often their own desire.

A bit of history

The beginning of the increase in the average working day in Japan was facilitated by the rather low wages that the population of the country received in the 1970s. Employees did everything to increase their earnings. That is why they sought to get extra money for overtime hours. This trend continued into the 1980s. And this despite the fact that a period has come when Japan entered the list of the most highly developed economic countries, taking second place there. The inhabitants of the country did not change the established tradition in the late 1990s. At this time, the length of the working day in Japan was long due to the outbreak of the crisis. In order to successfully overcome it, companies began to carry out internal reforms, rebuilding their organizational system. At the same time, workers stayed at work, trying not to get laid off. At the same time, companies began to hire temporary employees working without any guarantees and bonuses. Such a move made the existence of people in the state even more unbearable.

Today, no one is embarrassed by the length of the working day of 12 or more hours. As a rule, no one forces people to stay late in the evenings, but they believe that they are obliged to do so.

Karoshi

It is not uncommon for workers in Japan to stay at their jobs, fearing that they will be thought of as specialists who do not have time to fulfill their duties. Moreover, in solving any production problem, a resident of this country strives to be a necessary link in one common chain of a corporation. The main thing for him is to work in such a way that the working group, of which he is a member, completes the task assigned to it within the minimum time and in the optimal mode. This is one of the reasons for the emergence of overtime. In addition, each employee, showing solidarity with his colleagues, seeks to provide them with all possible assistance, which, in his opinion, they really need. This is how overtime passes in Japanese companies, which today is not paid.

Such a busy schedule leads to the fact that in the country there are often cases of death due to overwork or suicide. And all this happens right at the workplace. A similar phenomenon in Japan even got its name - "karoshi", it is considered the official reason for the death of a person.

Unusual tradition

The stressful working conditions in Japan call for some relaxation. This led to the emergence of an unusual tradition, which in the country is called "inemuri". It represents a dream or a kind of quiet hour during work. During this time, the person continues to remain upright. In this case, sleep for the Japanese is not only a sign of hard work. It indicates the diligence of the employee and his dedication.

However, those who just got a job should not try to fall asleep on it. Inemuri is the privilege of superiors. An employee does not have the right to sleep in front of a more qualified colleague. The only exceptions are processing that takes place after the end of the official labor day. At this time, a person can sleep for 20 minutes, but with the condition that he continues intensive work after his awakening.

Holidays

As you can see, the Japanese are literally working hard. Their daily routine and work system for Europeans seem simply inhumane. After reading these facts, the question immediately arises: “Is there a vacation in Japan?”. Officially yes. According to the legislation in force in the country, it lasts 10 days and must be provided once a year. However, having studied the Japanese mentality, one can understand that the Japanese will not rest for such a long time. And indeed it is. It is not customary for residents of the country to fully use their vacation. This does not allow them to do the existing traditions. In the culture of the country it is considered: using days of rest, a person by this indicates that he is lazy and does not support the work of the whole team.

The Japanese compensate for their holidays national holidays, which are quite numerous in the country.

Wage level

What is the wage rate in Japan? Its level will directly depend on the position of the employee and his profession. So, an immigrant who took one of vacancies, on the initial stage must count on a salary lower than that of the indigenous population. It can be from 1400 to 1800 dollars within a month. Over time, a skilled worker will receive more. His average salary will be $2,650.

Experienced lawyers, lawyers, pilots and doctors earn between 10,000 and 12,000 dollars in Japan. Even the most highly developed European countries cannot boast of such a monthly salary.

Taking a well-deserved rest

System social protection in Japan, it has been in force in the country since 1942. It allows people to retire when they reach 65 years of age. This rule applies to both sexes.

Pension in Japan is paid from the Fund social insurance. To date, his assets reach 170 trillion yen.

The average social pension in Japan is $700. Professional is calculated on the basis of the system in which the person worked. Thus, civil servants receive, being retired, 2/5 of their previous salary. For other employees, the amount of payments is determined based on the amount they have accumulated. It consists of monthly deductions from the salary (5%). The employer also contributes to the savings fund of a particular person. The company also makes monthly contributions to the pension fund of its employee.

Since the mid-60s of the 20th century, the concept of the “Japanese miracle” has entered the economy - those lightning-fast changes that have occurred in the Japanese economy in a relatively short period of time. There are several approaches to explaining this economic phenomenon. The most plausible of them lies in the attitude towards employees. With the right priorities, Japan is more productive, loses less time in strikes, protests, and downtime, can more easily adopt new technologies, and generally produces more and faster high-quality goods than its foreign competitors.

Japan has several laws that govern labor Relations and issues of protecting the interests of workers. They apply in principle to all enterprises operating in the territory of the country, regardless of the nationality of the owner. In addition, they apply to foreign workers, provided that they fall under the definition of "worker".

How to find a job

In Japan, there is a government agency for employment, which bears the telling name "Hello, work." There are offices and representative offices of this organization throughout the country. The agency helps people who are looking for a job and companies that are looking for workers absolutely free of charge.

Also, some regional state organizations and educational institutions. There are also several private employment agencies of various types in the country. Moreover, most need to pay, only in case of successful employment. Finally, jobs in Japan can be found through numerous newspapers, magazines and websites.

On the recruitment process work force the principle of free contractual relations applies: the employer has the right to decide for himself how many and what kind of employees he wants to hire. At the same time, Japan has a number of rules that are unusual for a Russian citizen. For example, employers are not allowed to indicate the gender of an employee in job postings.

How to register an employee

When hiring employees, companies enter into employment contracts with them. In this case, the employer is obliged to notify the employee in writing about following conditions recruitment:

1) The duration of the employment contract (or in the absence of provisions governing the duration of the contract, an indication of this fact)

2) Description of the workplace and duties to be performed by the employee

3) The time of the beginning and end of the working day, overtime work, breaks, weekends and holidays

4) Method of determination, calculation and payment wages; the period for which wages are accrued, and the timing of its payment

5) The procedure for leaving and dismissal from work (including a description of all grounds for dismissal)

Document expiration date

As a rule, employment contracts do not specify the duration of their validity. If a period of validity is nevertheless specified, it should not exceed three years, with the exception of a number of special cases. In this case, the employee has the right to quit, provided that a year has passed from the date of commencement of the employment contract.

Probation

Before hiring a worker on a full-time basis, the employer may set a limited trial period to determine if the person is suitable for him. As a rule, the trial period lasts three months. However, if after probationary period the employer does not want to hire an employee on a permanent basis, such a decision qualifies as dismissal. And in order for the dismissal to be valid, it is necessary that during the probationary period there are good reasons for not hiring.

How salary is paid

Employers are required to pay the employee wages at least once a month on a pre-agreed date. In this case, the employer can, with the consent of the employee, transfer wages to the bank account indicated by him, taking into account tax deductions

The minimum wage is set in each region and in each industry separately. Moreover, if two different minimum wages are established for an employee, he has the right to receive more.

The monthly salary includes the minimum wage and a range of benefits such as housing allowance, family allowance and travel allowance. Generally, workers in Japan are also paid summer and winter bonuses.

It should be noted that all more companies introduce wage systems in which the amount of wages depends on the abilities of the worker. As a result, the practice of paying salaries based on the results of the year is becoming more widespread.

Working hours

Working hours in Japan are legally limited to 40 hours a week or eight hours a day, excluding breaks. But some businesses are allowed to set a work week of up to 44 hours. These areas include companies retail, beauty salons, cinemas, theaters, health and hygiene facilities, as well as restaurants and entertainment venues.

If the duration of the working day is six hours, the employer is obliged to give the employee a break of at least 45 minutes. If a person works eight hours, then the break must be at least an hour.

Employers are also required to give employees at least one day off per week or four days off per month. The weekend doesn't have to fall on a Sunday.

Any employer requiring its employees to work overtime or on public holidays must submit to the local Labor Inspectorate an agreement on such conditions for the employee himself.

Those who work overtime or at night are entitled to increasing coefficients:

Paid holiday

The employer is obliged to provide 10 days paid leave to an employee who has worked for at least six consecutive months from the date of employment and has worked at least 80% of the planned working days. Paid leave can be used in whole or in parts. The duration of the vacation increases with the accumulation of seniority:

The right to paid annual leave is valid for two years. In other words, unused paid leave can only be carried over to the next year.

It should also be noted that in a number of cases (wedding, death of close relatives, birth of a child, etc.), most Japanese companies provide their employees with several additional days of paid leave.

Maternity and parental leave

If a pregnant woman asks for leave six weeks before the expected date of birth of the child, the employer is obliged to do so. After the birth of a child, a woman may not work for eight weeks while on maternity leave.

The employer has the right to refuse to grant parental leave (1 year) to an employee who has worked at the enterprise for less than one year or has a spouse capable of providing permanent care for the child.

If an employee whose family member is in need of permanent care requests leave to care for such family member, the employer is obliged to comply with this request. The maximum duration of such leave is three consecutive months. However, the employer has the right to refuse an employee who has worked at the enterprise for less than one year or whose employment contract expires in the next three months.

Issues reflected in the rules internal regulations:

1) Work start and end times, breaks, holidays, vacations (including leave to care for a child and a relative due to illness), work shifts (when work is organized in two or more shifts).

2) The procedure for determining, calculating and paying wages (not including bonuses and other payments), the period for which wages are accrued, and the timing of its payment, as well as issues of wage increases.

3) The procedure for leaving and dismissal from work (including a description of the grounds for dismissal).

Other highlights

Employers are obliged to inform employees about the internal regulations established at the enterprise and about any collective agreements between the management and employees of the enterprise.

Employers are required to ensure compliance with safety and industrial hygiene requirements. Before an employee is hired by the state, he is obliged, at the request of the employer, to pass medical checkup. Then all permanent employees are required to undergo a medical examination once a year at the request of the employer.

Leaving and dismissal from work

If an employee working for employment contract without specifying an expiration date, expresses an intention to resign, he has the right to do so by sending a corresponding notice two weeks in advance.

An employee can be fired only if there are objective grounds. Reduction of staff in connection with the restructuring of the enterprise can be considered justified only if it meets the following four criteria:

1) Production necessity. The enterprise must prove that, taking into account the prevailing circumstances of doing business, the reduction of staff is inevitable and necessary.

2) Taking measures to avoid downsizing. The enterprise must prove that its management has taken all possible measures to prevent layoffs, such as redeployment of the workforce and offers of voluntary redundancy.

3) The validity of the selection of laid-off workers. The enterprise must demonstrate that the selection of employees subject to redundancy was carried out using reasonable criteria and taking into account the principle of fairness.

4) Compliance with established rules. The enterprise must prove that its management has carried out all necessary consultations with employees and trade unions.

An employer is not entitled to dismiss an employee if:

1) At the time the employee is on leave, which was granted to him as a result of an occupational disease or occupational injury, as well as within 30 days after the employee leaves such leave.

2) At the time the employee is on maternity leave, namely, within six weeks before the birth of the child and within eight weeks after the birth of the child, as well as within 30 days after the employee leaves such leave.

If the employer wishes to dismiss an employee, he is obliged to send a corresponding notice to his address 30 days before the expected date of dismissal. If an employer wishes to dismiss an employee on an accelerated basis, he is obliged to pay the employee 30 days' wages at the time of dismissal.

However, it should be noted that in some cases the employer has the right to dismiss the employee without notice and without payment of benefits:

1) The enterprise is unable to continue its economic activities as a result of a natural disaster and in other similar circumstances, the occurrence of which it could not prevent.

2) The dismissal of an employee becomes inevitable due to the fault of the employee:

- an employee, while at the workplace, commits an act that, in accordance with the Criminal Code, qualifies as a crime, including theft, embezzlement or bodily injury

— the employee violates the rules or generally accepted standards of behavior in the workplace or has a negative impact on other employees

- the employee provides information about himself that is not true, and which could affect the decision on his employment

– an employee without permission and without a good reason takes absenteeism lasting from two weeks

- the employee is constantly late for work, leaves work earlier than the set time, is absent from the workplace without permission and without a good reason

Japanese Social Security System

Japan has a universal insurance system, under which all persons living in the country are required to participate in the public health insurance system and in the pension system.

There are four different types of insurance schemes in Japan that are mandatory for all companies to participate in:

1) Industrial accident insurance. This insurance covers occupational diseases and accidents that occur at the workplace or on the way to or from work.

2) Job insurance. Allows you to pay unemployment benefits and ensure job stability by providing financial assistance and various subsidies.

3) Medical insurance and medical care expenses insurance. Covers medical and nursing expenses incurred by employees.

4) Pension insurance. This insurance provides workers with an old-age pension, as well as benefits in the event of loss of a breadwinner or disability.

The payment of insurance premiums is made by the company by deducting the corresponding amounts from the wages paid to employees and transferring these amounts to the accounts of the relevant government authorities, together with the contributions payable by the company itself.

Who will help

Social and labor insurance consultants are experts in the field of human resources management. At the request of the heads of companies, they are entitled to provide the following services:

– execution of labor and social insurance contracts and performance on behalf of companies of other administrative functions related to employment

— advising on compliance with safety and industrial hygiene requirements and human resource management

– performing mediation functions in the course of resolving labor disputes in accordance with the provisions of the Law “On the resolution of individual labor disputes”

– advising on pension issues and handling related complaints and claims

— resolution of other issues related to the application of labor legislation

Today, Japan is a country that is especially attractive for those who want to work in a highly developed state and receive decent pay for it.

The fact is that in Japan (one of the few countries) it is possible in just a month, being a good specialist in the area in demand here, to earn an amount that is quite comparable with the annual earnings in such European countries as Germany or France.

How to find a job in Japan

This is both easy and difficult at the same time. It is difficult because applicants are always required to have a good knowledge of the language. Many people know that learning Japanese is not easy. Surely everyone traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun is interested in the question of how to work in Japan.

State government programs, which are primarily designed to search for labor abroad, greatly simplify the search for the necessary work. So, if you have mastered a difficult Japanese language, you can take advantage of the special JET government program, which will help specialists with knowledge of the language find employment in Japan. Before starting an active job search, try to learn more about the country in which you are going to live and work.

Work mentality

To understand how the Japanese work, you must know that they strictly adhere to centuries of established traditions. It is very important for Japanese employers to understand whether you can add more value by working as a "cog" in a large work collective and not individually.

We want to warn you right away that a person who preaches the motto "my hut is on the edge" is practically devoid of a chance of success. Any Japanese respects the ordinary engineer of a large corporation much more than the son of a billionaire. This is due to the genetically established benevolence of the Japanese towards people working for large companies. Moreover, the Japanese do not believe in getting money easily.

Work days

The working day in Japan begins with an unusual for us "ritual of the beginning of the day." This is an original greeting from superiors and colleagues, chanting along with a team of inspiring sayings and slogans. Only after that you can start working.

Usually the Japanese work much more than their Western counterparts. Even if the company officially works from nine in the morning to six in the evening, no one will be surprised by employees who come to work at least half an hour earlier. After the end of the working day, people are often delayed for two or three hours, and mind you - own initiative.

Every Japanese worker acts as one of the links in a large and strong chain. For him, the most important thing is to act in such a way that the task that was assigned to the entire working group is completed with the highest quality and in less time. For the same reason, the Japanese rarely use their entire vacation. Appreciating the dedication of their employees, the management of many companies takes short week-long vacations for New Year, spring and summer, thus giving people a little rest.

The working day in the country lasts on average ten hours, and, accordingly, the working week in Japan is sixty hours.

Sign language

Successful work in Japan largely depends on the knowledge of sign language. Sometimes, in its significance, it significantly exceeds the one to which we are accustomed. Without knowing this language, you are unlikely to achieve any significant success.

Without mastering the basics of the culture of this country, you are doomed to failure. The Japanese will treat you either simply disapprovingly or even hostilely. This will make you go through many unpleasant moments.

If you will take part in business meetings, then you need to know how they are held in the Land of the Rising Sun. For example, the Japanese exchange their business cards even before the handshake and bow. All negotiations are initiated by middle managers. The height of tactlessness will be your desire to settle some issues with the authorities, bypassing the manager.

At any Japanese enterprise, all relations are built on the principle of hierarchy. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to work in Japan. More
adult employees always have a higher status, men are valued more than women. If you need to write a letter or some kind of request at work, you should contact a colleague of equal status to you.

Business conversations should take place in an atmosphere of trust, friendliness, and harmony. Before starting such a conversation, it is necessary to speak for seven to ten minutes on common topics to establish contact.

The Japanese very often use subtle forms of refusal. Instead of saying "no," a Japanese person is likely to say, "This will be very difficult to do."

Work and accommodation

Usually in big cities there are more vacancies than in the periphery. But living in a big city has its downsides. The labor market is usually crowded, and therefore tariff rates much lower. For example, if an English teacher in Tokyo earns an average of $30 per hour, then somewhere in the suburbs - $40 per hour. Moreover, life in big city takes most of the earnings. Although there are some advantages: you can get a richer experience of national cultural life.

What specialists are needed in Japan

The following categories of workers are in the greatest demand in the country:

Teachers of English and Russian languages;

Financiers and bankers;

Programmers;

mechanical engineers;

Designers.

Who can work in Japan

The country has twenty-seven types of statuses for foreign citizens, in seventeen of them it is possible to work, provided that the necessary papers are correctly drawn up from the Russian and Japanese sides. The length of stay in the country may vary, but should not exceed five years (except for diplomats, whose stay is issued for the entire period of activity). The status is issued for fifteen days, three months, six months, a year, three years, five years.

How to work in Japan

For many applicants, this question is extremely relevant. Legal work in Japan is impossible without work visa. This document is very important for a foreign worker. Japanese legislation is very strict, so the process of finding a suitable vacancy is also aggravated by the fact that, according to the law, a company that wishes to hire you must automatically act as a guarantor in obtaining a work visa.

Is it possible to find work for non-professionals

Yes, it's possible. If you have at least an intermediate level of Japanese, you can try to find a job caring for the sick or the elderly. As you know, this country has the longest life expectancy, and many elderly people need help.

Resume writing

Jobs in Japan for men are most often provided in the area computer technology or medicine. Choosing the right vacancy, it is very important to write a resume correctly and competently.

The Japanese respect any work, and they approach the selection of employees very carefully. When compiling a resume, try to emphasize the ability to work, the desire to work in a team (provided that this is true).

In addition, you must very politely and respectfully address your future employer and under no circumstances be interested salary In Japan, it's considered bad manners. Today we tried to tell you about how to work in Japan, what kind of specialists are in demand in this country, what are the requirements for them. We hope that this information will be helpful.

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