Job Discussion Forums

GajinGirl · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 9 Location: U.S.A

Hey There!

Has anyone heard of "RCS" or also known as "R" Foriegn Language Institute in the Saitama area? This is for an ALT position. The pay scale is strange: 220,000 per month, + 10,000 monthly bonus+ 30,000 per semester bonus+end of contract bonus.

The hours are good: daytime 8-4:30 (actual teaching time approx 4-5 hours a day but you have to stay on the school grounds even when you are not teaching which doesn't seem unusual).
The holidays are good as well: 5 weeks paid.
Use of car (you pay around $127USD for it a month).
Subsidized housing.
What does anyone think of this? Opinions please.

All the best....

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

As I understand it, they can't legally sponsor a visa on that pay structure. To sponsor a visa, the basic pay BEFORE bonuses (ie guaranteed minimum) must be at least 250 k a month. That pay structure doesn't seem to meet it even after bonuses. The subsidised housing can apparently count as part of the basic pay.

A bonus that gets paid every month seems a bit of a misnomer too. Might want to check whether there are situations in which you might not get these bonuses.

The hours and holidays are typical for ALT positions, neither exceptionally good or bad.

Are there any restrictions on car usage? Is the job in a location that would require a car for any reasonable social life?

GajinGirl · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 9 Location: U.S.A

According to the position information you are allowed the car for personal use. I am not sure about the rest (the bonus miminums) but I wrote and asked them. We'll see if I get a response.
I just thought it was an odd way to put the pay structure together. I had never seen anything like it before.

Thanks for all input. Wink

Sherri · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2003 9:33 pm Post subject:

I don't think it matters anymore what the minimum wage is for immigration. I changed to part time and then stopped working all together this year (maternity leave) so my annual earnings were almost nothing but when I went to renew my (3-year) visa, I got it no problem. I know of other people who got visas with less than the 250,000.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

The Bonuses are hardly that. They are using a bit of financial leverage on you. By placing those periodic bonuses they are ensuring that you abide closely by company rules and proceedings.

For example:
Bad mouth the company to the school-----No bonus
Late or go home early-----No bonus
Don't do company paperwork-----No bonus

The company I work for has a more benign version of this bonus system. It doesn't seem to mean anything to me. I go to work on time, don't complain about things I shouldn't, and do all of what is required of me. The bonus money is always there. If I start slacking a bit the money might disappear along with my work ethic.

I noticed you get five weeks of paid vacation a year. What about Winter holiday? Golden Week, the end of February? There is a lot of downtime in schools. Some companies don't pay you for any of it. Some are a bit more generous.

I had applied for one company. They offered 290 000 yen a month. It sounded great but the reality was that I would only be paid for 8 1/2 months a year. And this was in Tokyo without housing support. Needless to say I am not working for that company.

Overall the contract info you've given looks manageable. It's neither incredibly good nor bad. Whether or not you should take it depends on your qualifications and experience (and of course your current financial siuation).

GajinGirl · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 9 Location: U.S.A

I thought overall the contract info sounded ok as well. As far as vacations go for the ALT position :

Winter approx 10 days
Spring approx 10 days
Summer,approx 6 weeks (August unpaid)

They have another position which is teaching in their offices and sub-ing for the ALT's when neccesary. It pays slightly higher, 230,000 yen and the End of contract bonus is higher (150,000 as opposed to 75,000 for the ALT)
It offers 1 week summer holiday and winter- 2 weeks. No mention of Golden Week in that contract. It seems you have more actual teaching hours (contract states 40 hours).

I am not sure which to favor more. Probably the ALT position-I would think you could get to know to know your students better.

As Das Fads · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 44

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

You are getting screwed.

Unpaid August? Forget it.

You can do much better elsewhere. Try looking at a company like Altia, they pay better, offer the car for free, and pay you all year. I think if you do a google search you can find their website. I have friends there, and they say it is fine. Placements in Nagoya or Shizuoka, not Tokyo if that matters.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

"R" Foriegn Language Institute is constantly advertising for positions. This means a) they are extremely busy and have secured a large number of ALT positions, b) no one wants to work for (or stay with) them very long, or c) they run a continuous advert regardless of whether there are any openings.
That said, the unpaid August is bogus. As for the visa issue and "minimum wage," my guess is "R" is using the 4-5 teaching hours per day (20-25 per week) as the basis for your sponsorship, which would make you "part-time" in the eyes of immigration.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Basically, RCS is a middleman... I had an interview w/ them and got hired a few weeks later, but by then I had accepted another position.

The main things are:

1. Their working conditions bite. The pay is very low for what you are required to do.... They are well below the standard of 250,000... Although they will give you a song and dance routine about attendance and completion bonuses... It still doesn't add up.

2. What this company basically does, is pimp out teachers to the various school boards and pockets the difference from what the school board pays them.

They assemble a profile of you w/ photo & background, etc and send it out to the school boards.... If you catch the eye of some school(s) and they say: "Yeah, can you send us that guy/gal?" they phone you up and tell you you've been hired.

3. My overall impression: I would have taken the job, but only if it had been by far my last resort option.

Hope that helps...

P.S. The staff & management seemed nice when I met them but also a bit anal retentive.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

August unpaid? That brings the effective monthly salary down to 215 k after bonuses. Anywhere but the inaka, you'll have difficulty making ends meet and still have a social life. You can do better.

ZotTower · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 2 Location: Massachusetts

Do you think they would negotiable up to 250000yen a month instead of the 2300000 they currently list? I got contacted by them today, I am interested but would prefer the 250000yen/month that most other places offer.

Also, is anybody familiar with the recruiting/application process with this company? I am in the USA currently and am wondering what they do about interviews, etc.