Hi guys,
I’ve been working retail in a shop for about a month now and my manager is asking 5000 yen (non-refundable) for the uniform.
I was very surprised, as where I worked in the past if you had to pay for company equipment you would either own the thing or be refunded when you give it back at the end (provided it’s not damaged).
Here it would mean that I am actually paying the company to be able to work, which doesn’t really sit well with me.
I was wondering if it was normal/legal
Thanks
4 comments
Normal. I worked for two airlines many years ago and had to buy the uniform we were expected to wear.
In Japan, convenience stores and apparel shops etc can require employees pay for uniforms or clothes worn at work. Legally the main requirement is that they have to inform the employee ahead of time.
It isn’t really -that- rare at all. However, you may have a valid complaint if you’re saying they didn’t tell you before you started about the uniform charge. At most places this would be in the onboarding documentation.
you pay for it and you keep it.
You sure you have to give it back?
Hear me out.
I work in an office and don’t have a uniform. So I need to get a variety of clothes that frankly I’ll only wear for the office. In Japan it’s even more pronouned because most office workers have to buy their own 3 piece suits.
It’s great when uniforms are provided, but let’s not pretend it’s an additional cost over having to buy appropriate wear for any other work.
It is legal as long as written in contract.
>従業員に費用を負担させるのは違法？
>コンビニエンスストアやレストランなど、業務に際して従業員に制服の着用を義務付けている業種は少なくありません。こうした備品を自腹で購入させる場合、雇用側はあらかじめ労働条件の1つとして、制服の購入を明示する必要があります。
>これは労働基準法の第15条第1項、「使用者は、労働契約の締結に際し、労働者に対して賃金、労働時間その他の労働条件を明示しなければならない」との規定に基づいています。そして明示すべき内容については、労働基準法施行規則の第5条第1項において、「労働者に負担させるべき食費、作業用品その他に関する事項」と明記されています。
>つまり、事前にその旨を明確に伝えているのであれば、備品を自腹で購入させることは違法にはあたりません
>Is it illegal to require employees to pay for their own expenses?
>Many businesses, such as convenience stores and restaurants, require their employees to wear uniforms when working. If an employer requires employees to purchase such equipment at their own expense, the employer must clearly state in advance that the purchase of uniforms is one of the working conditions.
>This is based on Article 15, Paragraph 1 of the Labor Standards Law, which states, “The employer shall clearly indicate wages, working hours, and other working conditions to workers when concluding a labor contract. And as for the contents to be clearly indicated, Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Labor Standards Law clearly states “matters related to food, work supplies, and other items to be borne by the worker.
>In other words, it is not illegal to have workers purchase equipment at their own expense if they are clearly informed of this in advance.