CONTRACTUAL ISSUES
While CLAIR provides contracting organizations with a model contract, it can be amended to include specific local employment conditions. Therefore, contracts may vary from ALT to ALT and CIR to CIR. It is essential that you fully understand the terms and conditions of YOUR contract, and understand that these terms and conditions are NON-NEGOTIABLE and CANNOT be changed. The points following are some things that you should be sure to remember about your contract:
What does your contract say?
Read it thoroughly because each Contracting Organization can make their own amendments to the sample in the JET General Information Handbook.
Read it thoroughly because each Contracting Organization can make their own amendments to the sample in the JET General Information Handbook.
Important Contract Info
Contract Start Date
Day after arrival in Japan (2010 arrivals)
Group A: July 26, 2011
Group B: August 2, 2011
Group C: August 26, 2011
Supervisor
The head of the organization in which the JET participant is posted. This person is most likely not the same as your Caretaker.
Prefectural ALTs: Prefectural BOE
Municipal ALTs: Superintendent of your BOE
Prefectural CIRs: Director of the International Relations Division
Municipal CIRs: Head of your BOE/office.
Caretaker
A member of your workplace with whom you work more closely than your supervisor. Your Caretaker is the one who will help you get settled in Japan and assist in doing things like setting up a bank account and filling out necessary paperwork. This is the person you should turn to with housing problems, work issues, schedule questions, etc., NOT your Supervisor.
Remuneration
JETs receive approximately \3.6 million after tax. Usually a JET’s health insurance, pension plan, and employment insurance payments are deducted from his/her salary. (All JETs are enrolled in these plans and MUST pay these premiums. Parts of these payments are shouldered by your contracting organization.) You should receive about \260,000 each month after the above payments have been taken out.
Inhabitant tax (juuminzei) is paid by the contracting organization, but you should check whether your contracting organization will pay for it when the time comes, or if you are receiving extra compensation monthly and will be expected to pay for it yourself to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Travel Expenses
To receive reimbursement for your travel you must fill out the correct form. Ask your Caretaker to ensure that you are filling it out correctly. Official JET functions will be reimbursed. Keep all receipts from business trips!
Hours
JETs work 35 hours per week. Generally, ALTs will work 8:30-16:15 Mon-Fri; CIRs will work 8:30-17:15 Mon-Thurs, 8:30-11:30 Fri. **However, these hours can vary**
Daikyu is compensation time/time-in-lieu, which should always be confirmed beforehand. Examples when one might receive it would be English camps, working with homestay students, and Saturday school. You can only receive daikyu if you are asked to stay or teach on a day off by your Supervisor; otherwise it is your own volunteer time. Make sure everything is in agreement before the actual day.
Holidays
JETs will receive time off for all National Holidays and New Year’s holiday (December 29-January 3). You may also receive Compensatory Holidays for when things such as PTA meetings, Saturday school, special school functions fall on a weekend.
Yearly Paid Leave (Nenkyu)
Number of days varies from 12 to 20 days. Be sure to double check with your caretaker as to how many days notice you need to give before using nenkyu.
Caretaker can reject the period of requested paid leave.
If the period of the requested paid leave would interfere with smooth work operations, the Supervisor may refuse the JET’s requested paid leave.
You must provide your Caretaker with details of any overseas travel plans in advance.
Sick Leave (Byokyu)
Check with your Caretaker as to the appropriate method of notification.
For most JETs, even though sick leave may be written in your contract, you may be required to use paid leave if you do not submit a doctor’s certificate (shindansho.)
Prefectural (Senior High School) ALTs must submit a doctor’s certificate (shindansho) if they are to receive byokyu, otherwise they must take nenkyu.
Restrictions
Without permission from your Caretaker, you may not be employed by any party other than the Contracting Organization, nor become involved in any enterprise or business from which you receive remuneration other than that of the Contracting Organization.
Transport
The JET shall not operate a motor vehicle for duty-related matters without the permission of the Caretaker, including for commuting to and from work.
Day after arrival in Japan (2010 arrivals)
Group A: July 26, 2011
Group B: August 2, 2011
Group C: August 26, 2011
Supervisor
The head of the organization in which the JET participant is posted. This person is most likely not the same as your Caretaker.
Prefectural ALTs: Prefectural BOE
Municipal ALTs: Superintendent of your BOE
Prefectural CIRs: Director of the International Relations Division
Municipal CIRs: Head of your BOE/office.
Caretaker
A member of your workplace with whom you work more closely than your supervisor. Your Caretaker is the one who will help you get settled in Japan and assist in doing things like setting up a bank account and filling out necessary paperwork. This is the person you should turn to with housing problems, work issues, schedule questions, etc., NOT your Supervisor.
Remuneration
JETs receive approximately \3.6 million after tax. Usually a JET’s health insurance, pension plan, and employment insurance payments are deducted from his/her salary. (All JETs are enrolled in these plans and MUST pay these premiums. Parts of these payments are shouldered by your contracting organization.) You should receive about \260,000 each month after the above payments have been taken out.
Inhabitant tax (juuminzei) is paid by the contracting organization, but you should check whether your contracting organization will pay for it when the time comes, or if you are receiving extra compensation monthly and will be expected to pay for it yourself to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Travel Expenses
To receive reimbursement for your travel you must fill out the correct form. Ask your Caretaker to ensure that you are filling it out correctly. Official JET functions will be reimbursed. Keep all receipts from business trips!
Hours
JETs work 35 hours per week. Generally, ALTs will work 8:30-16:15 Mon-Fri; CIRs will work 8:30-17:15 Mon-Thurs, 8:30-11:30 Fri. **However, these hours can vary**
Daikyu is compensation time/time-in-lieu, which should always be confirmed beforehand. Examples when one might receive it would be English camps, working with homestay students, and Saturday school. You can only receive daikyu if you are asked to stay or teach on a day off by your Supervisor; otherwise it is your own volunteer time. Make sure everything is in agreement before the actual day.
Holidays
JETs will receive time off for all National Holidays and New Year’s holiday (December 29-January 3). You may also receive Compensatory Holidays for when things such as PTA meetings, Saturday school, special school functions fall on a weekend.
Yearly Paid Leave (Nenkyu)
Number of days varies from 12 to 20 days. Be sure to double check with your caretaker as to how many days notice you need to give before using nenkyu.
Caretaker can reject the period of requested paid leave.
If the period of the requested paid leave would interfere with smooth work operations, the Supervisor may refuse the JET’s requested paid leave.
You must provide your Caretaker with details of any overseas travel plans in advance.
Sick Leave (Byokyu)
Check with your Caretaker as to the appropriate method of notification.
For most JETs, even though sick leave may be written in your contract, you may be required to use paid leave if you do not submit a doctor’s certificate (shindansho.)
Prefectural (Senior High School) ALTs must submit a doctor’s certificate (shindansho) if they are to receive byokyu, otherwise they must take nenkyu.
Restrictions
Without permission from your Caretaker, you may not be employed by any party other than the Contracting Organization, nor become involved in any enterprise or business from which you receive remuneration other than that of the Contracting Organization.
Transport
The JET shall not operate a motor vehicle for duty-related matters without the permission of the Caretaker, including for commuting to and from work.
