Job Discussion Forums

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

Read Nova's response that outlines how they are breaking the law.

http://www.generalunion.org/nova/

[Glenski]

Copied from that link:

(1) We let our instructors join the shakai-hoken and pension scheme when they wish to. If the union thinks that we are refusing to do so, it is a misunderstanding.

According to every person I have talked to who are considering working for NOVA, NOVA has told them they cannot join any national health plan because they must have some kind of insurance before they come to Japan. That forces them to buy a foreign plan, or buy NOVA's.

(2) We have told the union from time to time that we will put your members on the shakai-hoken and pension scheme whenever they wish to, however, there has not been any request to join the scheme either from the union nor from your members.

They will put ONLY the teachers who belong to the union on shakai hoken? Not only is this discrimination, but it contradicts their first item in this rebuttal. Plus, how many newbies even know there IS a union?

(3) As many instructors are only planning to stay in Japan for a short while, they seem to feel that the merit of the shakai-hoken and pension sheme is small considering the economic burden (of the contribution). It is difficult for us to convince the instructors (of the merit of) deducting the premium from their wages.

It doesn't matter if there are "many" who plan to stay a short time. Besides, they may change and stay longer. Also, how does NOVA know what these people's opinions are considering the merits of shakai hoken? Do they ask/explain?

Economic burden? Gimme a break.

(4) For the instructors arrived in Japan for the first time, we explain about shakai-hoken, pension scheme, and JMA, and let them to choose one or any other private insurance they have already taken out.

Not from the many people I have had conversations with!

There is no fact that we recommend to join JMA.

See previous comment.

In one case that it turned out that the shakai-hoken was more beneficial after an instructor chose to join the JMA, we have actually put him on the shakai-hoken retroactively.

Precisely how is this "more beneficial" aspect arrived at? JMA costs 6400 to 7500 yen/month. NHI costs 2500 a month for the first year. Financially, NHI is cheaper.

Therefore, we understand that there has been no �damages� caused to our instructors for not joining the shakai-hoken.
　
Well, considering that anyone who has lived here with another type of insurance and who wants to convert over to NHI has to pay all of the costs for NHI during the time he has been here, regardless of whatever previous coverage he has been on, I'd say that was a rather large "damage", financially speaking.

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[inkansai]

Glenski, Please explain how National Health Insurance(kokumin kenko hoken) is cheaper. (other than the first year which is cheap)

I live in Osaka city and currently pay 44,000 yen per month for National Health Insurance (I don't owe them any money I'm fully paid up). I also pay into the National Pension (kokumin nenkin ) and pay 13,300 yen a month.

Thats's 57,300 yen a month. This is cheap? My salary for 2003 (used to calculate my current premiums) was 3,311,740 yen. I'm not a high income earner.

If my employer followed the law and enrolled me in Employee's health and pension insurance (shakai hoken) I would be much better off. My premiums would be 30,000 a month. I would have sickness benefits, I'd get 60% of my wage if I was hospitalized. More for less money sounds good to me!

[Mishark]

Hi

Sorry, this may have been answered somewhere else before, but I am confused over the difference between kokumin kenko hoken and shakai hoken. This is the first time I've had to look into insurance policies and all that.

So far, what I've got is:

National Health Insurance (kokumin kenko hoken):
- covers 70% of in- and out-patient medical expenses
- covers some dental
- it is cheap for the FIRST year in Japan and after that become much more expense the 2nd year and onward as it is based on last year's salary

Shakai Hoken:
- also covers about 70% of in- and out-patient medical expenses
- i vaguely recall something about covering medication
- if you are injured, you will receive 60% of your wages while you cannot work
- I am under the impression that you are also enrolled into the pension plan and the you will get 85% of the money back for this if you leave within 3 years or so (?)

Could someone please help to clarify this?

Thanks[/b]

[inkansai]

Shakai Hoken is employees' health and pension insurance. The only way you can be enrolled in Shakai Hoken is if your employer enrolls you. Unfortunately, the Big 4 Eikawa Schools don't enrol their non-Japanese teachers.

Kokumin Kenko Hoken (National Health Insurance) and Kokumin Nenkin (National Pension) are for people who are not enrolled in Shakai Hoken, typically the self-employed, unemployed.

Kokumin Nenkin (National Pension) is 13,300 yen a month
Kokumin Kenko Hoken (National Health Insurance) premiums vary from city to city and are calculated using city tax amounts (hence the first year is cheap). These premiums are pretty excessive in some cities.

Kokumin Kenko Hoken doesn't pay any sickness benefit, so if you are unable to work due to illness you don't get any money.

Enrollment is not automatic. You have to enroll into both Kokumin Kenko Hoken and Kokumin Nenkin at the city or ward office. Also when you leave Japan the refund is nowhere near as attractice.

Shakai Hoken is the only way to go....so try and find an employer that will enroll you in it.

In my opinion, Immigration should not issue Certificates of Eligibility for companies that don't follow the law in regards to Shakai Hoken but that is another issue.......

[Mishark]

Thanks that helps alot.

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[PAULH]

Is there any way you guys can stop spamming into unrelated threads?

Things are getting out of hand here with this topic.

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[Glenski]

[PAULH]

[inkansai]

The Insured Person Coverage Period Rates for Employee's Pension Insurance have changed. For premiums paid after April 1st, 2003 the following rates apply.

6-11 months 0.4
12-17 months 0.8
18-23 months 1.2
24-29 months 1.6
30-35 months 2.0
36 plus months 2.4