Job Discussion Forums

EFLpursuits · Joined: 14 Jul 2010 Posts: 38

I apologize for bumping an older thread. I felt it better to bump this one (with the original information and debate) rather than create a new one.

I'm very interested if the law has changed since Glenski's post.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

To my knowledge, no, it has not changed. Anyone?

EFLpursuits · Joined: 14 Jul 2010 Posts: 38

Thank you for your reply, Glenski.

What you wrote in 2008 was very important news.

I can't find anything on legal changes regarding dispatch companies sending teachers to universities. I second you..."anyone?"

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

I think the only thing that has changed is the labels these companies try to use. The bad benefits and conditions they try to enforce haven't changed.

The unis themselves still seem to want to use 'dispatchers' in some situations, so they go along with the 'status' change. It's similar with the 15 classes per semester rule that Monkasho has handed down, where exam period sessions are sometimes counted as classes (and so are classes that are never scheduled, but could have been).

kotoko · Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 109

Is this why westgate jobs only last a few months? To get around this law?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Having a 3-month contract that is non-consecutive would be one way to avoid the law that says they must become permanent employees after 3 years of work there. I believe sometimes Westgate has consecutive contracts, but their web site says only when the client asks for it.

Another reason they choose dispatch is to save money, so they think, and because MEXT looks the other way.

EFLpursuits · Joined: 14 Jul 2010 Posts: 38

Why is MEXT looking the other way? I'm curious.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Hard to say, but a lot of things in Japan skirt the letter of the law, like even some government unis not paying for uni vacation periods even though the law says that they must for government contracts.

Often, unless someone high up enough complains, very little gets changed quickly here. It's more a matter of when something chafes enough to bother to try and fix it, they'll have discussions and wait until a decision in some cases is forced upon them.

Shimokitazawa · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 458 Location: Saigon, Vietnam

Unless you got in as a bona fide faculty member at a university in Japan back in the 1990s or earlier, working at a Japanese university nowadays, at most schools, sucks.

The contracts are all short-term and schools recycle their instructors every 1 - 4 years.

Sure, there are some tenure-like, permanent positions around but they are few.

Universities in Korea and Taiwan, at least some, are starting to head down the same road with similar contracts but not quite to the extent that many Japanese universities have.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

What does that have to do with ALT dispatch?

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Maybe Shimokitazawa is trying to point to a reason why dispatch companies and their contractors might be more prevalent now.

Certainly the trend that he is talking about with permanent full time posts disappearing or gradually becoming quite difficult to get has become commonplace, with even Japanese faculty being included.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

EFLpursuits · Joined: 14 Jul 2010 Posts: 38

This is something to be pursued by those who care about the quality of Japanese education.

Is it a "good thing" that dispatch companies send short term contracted teacher with dubious credentials to teach all the freshmen students of Japan?? Hmmm.

fujisan · Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 42

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN