This is partly a warning, partly just a vent, and asking for advice. I need to know what resources I need to use to report them and get my unpaid wages. I can’t afford a lawyer and I would just assume hello talk.
Earlier this year, in spring, I joined a Kindergarten because my visa expiration was coming up. It was not my first choice, and I wasn’t enthusiastic about it, but I had to suck it up. The school was a certain American themed kindergarten in Fuchu. Which is relevant because it was an hour away adding to stress I had to suck up.
I sign the contract, being pretty open about my visa expiration, and they are pretty open about it and get my application done in time. So now I am on the 40 extra days you get once you apply for renewal.
A few weeks later I start work, and complete my first week. It’s godawful. They do not provide break times until after shifts (illegal), the pay is under 2 million, and the place is honestly very culty. As an example, one other teacher was so thankful to the owners of the business for bringing him out to Japan to see his kid. He has a Japanese wife, so he can literally do anything else besides on a spousal visa. But he is doing work for less than the average pay for an English teacher. And he is thankful for it. But not everyone is like that because the guy I was shadowing literally talked shit about the company and it’s management for like an hour with me.
Anyway they sit me down and ask me the 1 year thing. “Can you do this job for the full year.” I basically ask for the weekend because I’m tired as shit, which I know is a mistake, but because of that they said I wasn’t committed enough and fired me on the next Monday. I did not work or was able to talk to them face to face until Tuesday.
This obviously sends me into a panic because they specifically mentioned they would send a letter to immigration in order to get my visa application canceled. Frantically I’m calling hello work and lawyers. I end up at a labor consultation office and they facilitate everything between me and the company. Basically I am told its a visa issue. I am asked to resign but I know enough not to resign because I loose all power.
The company says they will not do anything to cancel my visa, that is until a week later I get a call from immigration saying that visa is canceled because they sent a letter. So I go with my Japanese friend to translate. The letter did not even have a company stamp, signature, or anything identifying who sent it. They just called on the phone to confirm it. And I’m told that I need to find another job or get a letter of dismissal or get another job or I get no legal status.
So basically now, I try to set up a meeting with the labor consultation office. They say they will only agree to it if I become some worthy of their school. I send a strongly worded letter saying I need a letter of resignation and my money. Legally they have to provide me with it. So this is at least 2-4 labor violations, but I get ghosted. I have everything recorded though.
Eventually I get lucky and get a job officer from a better job in my industry job for over double the salary. Which fixes all these issues but not the trauma.