Job Discussion Forums

Black_Beer_Man · Joined: 26 Mar 2013 Posts: 453 Location: Yokohama

Does anybody know if Japanese teachers in public schools get subsidized healthcare insurance? How about business people?

I've noticed from job ads on Dave's that foreign esl teachers get free or subsidized healthcare insurance in Saudi Arabia and Korea.

Japan? Nope. I don't know any foreign teacher that gets a break from paying full price.

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

I think that full time J-teachers are all enrolled in Shakai Hoken, the social insurance scheme that covers both health care and pension. The employer and employee both pay half the premiums. AFAIK, JET teachers are enrolled in the same programme.

The problem comes with dispatched teachers. Many people think they should also be in the SHakai Hoken plan. However, the dispatch companies are reluctant to offer it because the company is responsible for half the premiums.

At the university teaching level, most schools offer participation in a shakai hoken type of plan if you are working full time, even on a limited term contract. It makes a big difference!

scrying · Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 27 Location: Nagoya Japan

353 a month (got a raise this year from 330 the previous 2 years), shakai, transport, the whole 9 yards. Direct hire ALT, public school, suburban town in Chubu. Mix of assisted and solo-taught classes. Job is mine til I release it from my cold, dead hands (and even then my corpse prolly won't). The jobs are unicorns, but they do exist.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

If you work for a city or prefecture, or private high school directly, you get benefits such as insurance copay. Private schools also may have supplementary insurance plans, teacher pensions and discounts for travel.

If you're a JET ALT or CIR, you get perks such as free or subsidized housing and meals, and all transportation covered (airfare, local transport, seminar/training trips).