Some background:
I am a foreign national and have been living and working in Japan for several years now.
I recently joined a new, rather small company, in the IT-related field.
My concerns:
I’ve recently noticed some peculiarities in my employment contract, and I’m keen to understand the legal aspects and my rights. Given the changing work dynamics, particularly due to Covid-19, I am getting more and more tired of the lack of respect for employees’ rights and agreements by some employers and companies. I’m looking to gain knowledge about labor laws and employment rights.
Current Approaches:
I’ve occasionally consulted the しごとセンター for information on specific cases. However, it can be time-consuming.
I’m considering joining a labor union to address some issues and question and to protect myself but have some reservations.
Some questions I have at the moment:
What are the pros and cons of joining a labor union in Japan?
Is this a common practice in the IT field in Japan?
Could joining a labor union potentially impact my career?
Which Union can I potentially join based on my background and profile, if you have any recommendation?
Thanks!
3 comments
If your employer doesn’t recognize the union as official representation of all employees, the union is powerless and can’t legally help. If an unrecognized union attempts to interfere in company/employee relations the company can sue for obstruction of business.
Overall, a union, let’s say the general union, is a good place to share information.
One notable gotcha is that they only onboard new members a couple of times a year or something, so if you have a concern now, they won’t help.
You don’t have to join a union to get some answers. Contact a union and ask for a consultation. Idk if these other commenters know what they’re talking about. It doesn’t match my experience working with a union in Japan.
My experience with Tozen has been very helpful and informative.