Job Discussion Forums

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:02 am Post subject: Interac - Illegal?

I came to Japan with Interac. Due to very difficult circumstances I had to leave. Ok, so this is hassle for any company - I know that. But they had replacements so no school children went without a teacher. I made sure of that first.

But...get this..they REFUSE to give me back my degree certificate until I sign a form that cancels my Visa. Yeah, like I'm going to do that.
"I will give you back your certicate , when you give us back OUR visa"
I went to collect it and was given so much psychological B.S. - to his credit he tried every trick in the book. Have to wonder if these people have any moral standards whatsoever. Stupid question really.

And, yes, as has been reported on this forum, the wages are not good, especially considering the pay-cuts for August and Christmas; I have never heard such nonsense in all my life. They also made a shambles of the recruiting process in my case, full of empty promises...etc.

Don't get me wrong, I really don't like complaining...everyone makes mistakes,blah,blah. But this really is too much. What should I do? Call in the law?

Thanks for listening to my rant! Evil or Very Mad

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

As far as i know, an employer cannot cancel your visa - only immigration can do that. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on this one.

However, the company requires a release that says that you are no longer an employee, and that they are not your sponsor.

Is this what they are asking you? When you quit Interac, they provide you with a checklist of materials that you must return and duties you must perform. Then they give you the goods back.

One word of warning to anybody intending to work for Interac - they ask for your original degree. This requirement, I feel, is like holding your children hostage until the hiring process is completed. How do they continue to get away with this?

When I left Interac, I was able to extract me and my documents intact, and with a valid visa in my passport. But the whole process was neither easy nor quick.

AgentMulderUK, the CM may be using the wrong term when he describes the document you must sign - a cancellation of sponsorship, NOT a cancellation of visa.

Likely your CM is a complete newbie and doesn't know his bottom from a hole in the ground. There have been so many shuffles and panics with Interac hiring, management and school contracts that it's likely this person hasn't had adequate training or valid information from on high.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:44 am Post subject: Re: Interac - Illegal?

They insisted I send my original to Japan (at my expense - world courier)....or no job.....

Evil or Very Mad

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Did you insist on getting back your certificate once you started working for them?
They sound like Korean hagwon owners who sometimes used to keep employees' passports until they finished their contracts.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Again, contact your university and see if they'll give you another certificate.

If they will, you have no problem (except that some dubious employer has taken off with your certificate).

ETA: if your university will not give you another certificate, then I guess you have to choose between doing what they want or first threatening and then following through with going to the law and/or the media.

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:23 am Post subject: They are watchin you

Well, what do you know!!!! They just phoned to say I could pick up my certificate....cannot be a coincidence....I have had this problem for nearly 3 weeks, then, on the very day I made the original post , they do a complete policy U-turn?!
I think they must read this board and are getting pretty fed up with their bad publicity.

So, score one point to Dave's ESL Cafe.

Thanks for everyones support and responses

Wink

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

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

I just wonder how it was they had held onto your certificate for an extended period. certainly, it is needed for teh initial visa application if they do that on your behalf, but there is no excuse for them to hold onto your certificates once teh stamps are in your passport.

If it happens with any employer, you should raise teh issue with teh labour standards authorities.

[email protected] · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 67

If you are leaving the country, why wouldn't you sign the release form that cancels the visa? What am I missing here?

Or are you really not leaving the country due to "difficult circumstances" but really want to work for another company. People pull this trick all the time in Japan.

It amazes me how often people break their contracts and commitments to an employer and then blame the company for their problems.

Interac has been around for 30 years and employes several hundred teachers, many of whom have been with the company for many years. Likewise for Nova, Geos, and Aeon. If 10% of the gaijin in Japan are flakes- which anyone who has been here for a while knows is the truth- then these companies are going to have dozens of "dissatisfied" ex-employees who have nothing better to do than whine, bitch and complain in websites like this.

You all make me sick.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Excuse me gimp, but neither the visa nor the certificate belongs to Interac. They have no right to keep his university diploma.

I agree that there are lots of teachers who don't live up to their end of the bargain. We don't know the whole story here with Mr X-files and what he may or may not have done.

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Smooth Operator · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 140 Location: Japan

First post from Mr Gimp, and what a nice one. Do you work for Interac or Nova? Want to climb the greasy pole into management by licking ass? Nice. Good luck sir...

Experienced · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 18

Although Mr. Gimp's comments are appreciated, companies also have to deal with their own reputation. Here are two sites which document some of Interac's history:

http://fierceforward.com/interac/

http://www.letsjapan.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=10

What amazes me is that other companies in the ESL industry in Japan don't even begin to get the harsh criticism that Interac seems to have brought upon itself because of Interac's poor ethical standards. If anyone is thinking of teaching ESL in Japan, remember that there are better alternatives to Interac.

carmenz · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 20

This sounds more like stealing to me. I'd contact the police. I also might contact the school you graduated from and inform them that your degree has been stolen. Maybe they can issue you another one?

That school has no right to hold on to your degree or hold it for ransom for anything. PLEASE report them to the police!!!! They sound very criminal. I've never heard of this company myself, though. And in the future don't give out your degree to anyone. A photocopy okay....but the original? Just because schools ask for thing does not mean you have to give them. Sorry but always try to use common sense about these things.