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Basic Contract, Deduction from Salary, Job Prospect
ESL Jobs Japan, TEFL Courses Japan, Teach English Japan, Japan Guide
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English Teaching Jobs in Japan
Berlitz
Japan recruits instructors year-round, both in Japan and overseas.
teach.berlitz.co.jp
Basic contract
A contract is a basic requirement for teaching in Japan. Before you begin
working, be sure to negotiate a contract with your employer. You should have a
clear understanding of your contractual obligations before signing the contract.
A basic teaching contract should include provisions for the following matters:
salary, housing, working hours, severance pay, income tax, medical insurance,
holidays, transportation and travel allowance for the passage back home
(provided that you complete the period of the contract). If these items are not
covered, you should negotiate until they are included in the contract. Most
contracts provide for either a set monthly salary or a salary based on the
number of teaching hours. A guaranteed monthly or hourly salary should be
specified.
Many teachers are easily intimidated by contracts or believe them to be the final word. The reality is that any contract is subservient to established labour laws. Labour laws are the final word. So even if you wind up signing yourself to a 46 hour 6 day a week contract it’s unenforceable because it is illegal. It’s important to know your rights as a worker under Japanese labour laws. If you feel you’re being treated unfairly, you can contact General Union for representation (by joining the union) or contact the Labour Standards Office for help in your disputes. General Union has answers to many questions like: withholding pay, termination, maximum hours, notice for quitting, contract renewal or other matters involved in teaching contracts.
The residents tax is 10% of your deemed income, and remains that for both foreigners and locals. Usually, if you are a foreigner, you are not liable for taxation during your first year in Japan. Assuming you have only had your teaching job, the amount of earnings will be your salary. As such, the following is how tax liability is calculated on your salary. For those in Japan for less than 1 year or those who receive more than 1-million yen in a single payment, 20% is deducted as a withholding tax. The municipal office in your area of residency receives notice of the total amount of income tax paid by you, and they then send you a separate request for payment of the local tax.
The first step in calculating the tax liability is illustrated below.
Total Annual Income – Employment Income Deduction = Earned Salary Exemption
Employment Income Deduction
Annual Income (Yen) Employment Income Deduction
Up to 1,625,000 650,000 Yen
1,625,000 to 1.8 million Annual Income x 0.4
1.800,0001 to 3.6 million Annual Income x 0.3 + 180,000 Yen
3,600,0001 to 6.6 million Annual Income x 0.2 + 540,000 Yen
9,600,0001 to 10 million Annual Income x 0.1 + 1.2 million Yen
Over 10 million Annual Income x 0.05 + 1.7 million Yen
Your taxable income is your income after tax on salary (Earned Salary Exemption)
minus any fixed-rate allowances for social security payments, insurances,
dependants and a basic exemption, etc. Everyone gets a basic allowance of
380,000 for income tax.
Income after employment income deduction – Total fixed-rate exemptions = Total
taxable income
Mastering basic, communicative English has become big business in Japan with schools adopting a systematic approach to recruiting teachers and students. Clear-cut visa and tax rules make it easy for foreigners to settle in Japan to teach English. Teachers will find that they would find it easier to get a work permit if they hold a bachelors degree.
The challenge involved in teaching English in Japan is training students to put words together in ordinary conversation so as to use their English in the working world. If you have never taught before, you can try finding jobs at an eikaiwa (conversation school) where you will get exposed to students of all ages. The big three eikaiwa are GEOS, AEON and ECC. Other jobs that TEFL certified teachers can get include assistant language teachers, business English trainers, or one-to-one English tutorials. In fact, private lessons are fine as an income booster but not as a main source of income, mainly because of the visa issue. There are also university positions, but these are hard to come by and generally need a master’s degree along with publications. Besides these job opportunities, teachers can also apply for part-time teaching programs. There is an abundance of smaller schools, junior and senior high schools, and businesses looking for English instructors. Part-time teachers can expect ¥2,500 to ¥3,000 yen per hour ($25) for part-time, freelance work and a bit less for full-time.
Most centers recruit year round, and almost all provide successful applicants with visa sponsorships, a subsidized apartment, and at least partially-paid national insurance. They even help teachers with administrative processes like setting up bank accounts and the like. Teachers are also given on-the-job training, frequent feedback sessions, and a set curriculum. Therefore, a TEFL certified teacher will have no problem putting a successful class together. Schools offer 25 to 30 hour weeks on average, although some set longer schedules. Teachers can expect to receive ¥250,000 to ¥300,000 ($2,000-$2,400) per month, depending on the school, its location, and the hours taught.