Job Discussion Forums

Gamecock · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Zhuhai, China

Was on the footprints site looking at possibly going to Japan as an ALT to the areas rebuilding from the earthquake/tsunami, and it states there that Americans can't get a work visa...wtf? Does anyone know about this? Why?

M_Almeida · Joined: 28 Sep 2010 Posts: 5

Looking at the listing on Footprints' website- they want teachers to come in June. That's pushing it with the only class of visas Americans are eligible for, which can take 2-3 months to process. It's noted that "American applicants who already posses a visa to teach in Japan are eligible"

I think they want Commonwealth speakers who can get Working Holiday Visas to fill in the gap......?

Gamecock · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Zhuhai, China

Their ad on their website also says the salary is 90,000 for the first 6 months, then will change to 250,000. WTF?

Ok, anyway...

CarolinaBen · Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 78

I have actually never seen an ad with that much salary, free housing, and pre-paid airfare. That sounds way to good to be true. There must be a catch!

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

Umm, 90000 for the first 6 months is horrible?

Kionon · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:26 am Post subject:

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

Even if every other expense is paid, it's bad...

Kionon · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:32 am Post subject:

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

The description of the Japan jobs is poorly done, IMO.
http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/teaching-jobs/teaching-jobs-in-asia/teaching-jobs-in-japan?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=89&sobi2Id=1537

Please note: No teachers will be placed in any area that is considered unsafe due to radiation or any other reason. All placements are in areas that have met a standard of safety with clean running water, electricity, phones, internet etc. Many of the positions available are in the prefectures of Miyagi, Uwate, Fukushima and Ibariki that were impacted by the events of March 11.
The underlined bold emphasis is mine. I'm sorry, but that absolutely has to include aftershocks or other major quakes, and nobody can guarantee that people in the prefectures listed above are going to be safe from them. It is foolish to advertise otherwise.

To come in June is not necessarily pushing visa processing, which typically takes 4-8 weeks. The kicker that suggests they want people on working holiday visas is this set of statements (on the same link above):
*At the moment, American citizens cannot be considered due to visa restrictions.
*Applicants must be between 18-30 years old due to visa restrictions.

Problem is, even though working holiday visas permit FT work, technically it should not be for a year's length. Footprints/Interac is stretching the letter of immigration law here.

I am also appalled at the description of salary and health insurance on that page. Very poorly written!

Salary Notes:

Signing Bonus: 100,000 JPY
Salary: 90,000 JPY/month*
Start up costs: 250,000 JPY (one time payment)
apartment related expenses (rent, utilities etc): 75,000 JPY/month

Tax Rate: 4.7% to 7% withholding tax
Job Start Notes: Teachers must arrive by June 19th to be eligible.
Contract Duration Notes: Initial contract from June 19, 2011 -March 2012 or June 19, 2011 to March 2013
Sept 1, 2011: first term ends, *contract & visa status able to change. (salary up to 250,000 JPY)
Teaching Hours Comments: Classes are scheduled on weekdays only until the hours of approximately 4:30pm or 5:00pm. There are no evening public holiday or weekend shifts. Teaching hours are up to 29.5 hours a week.
Airfare Comments: Airfare will be reimbursed with the first pay
Housing Comments: Almost all teachers live in their own private apartments.

Start up costs: 250,000 JPY (one time payment)
apartment related expenses (rent, utilities etc): 75,000 JPY/month

Health Insurance Comments: All teachers are required to enroll in a Health Insurance plan recognized by the Japanese government, and pay for their enrollment.

My questions:
1. What is that "startup cost" of 250,000 yen? Is the applicant supposed to pay Interac that? Outrageous, especially since it is not explained what it is for.

2. 90,000 salary vs. 75,000 yen for rent. Do the math. Even if rent includes utilities, that leaves you 25,000 for everything else in life. Untenable and impractical, even with the "Monthly Housing Allowance Provided". Second year you will have to pay more than 25,000 in health insurance, so where does food money come from?

3. They talk about 90,000 for salary in one place and 250,000 in another. Which is it?

4. They list "apartment related expenses (rent, utilities etc)", but do not describe what etc means. Is the phone bill therefore included in the 75,000? I doubt it. What other costs?

5. What is this "pay for their enrollment" in a health plan? There is no enrollment cost for national health insurance. Besides, we all know that they are just trying to avoid copayments into shakai hoken with the bogus 29.5 hours you are supposed to work. That's an old story getting older by the minute.

steki47 · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka

Gamecock · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Zhuhai, China

I was really interested in going to a place like this just to teach for a year and lend a hand in the rebuilding process during my free time. When I saw the initial ad I was a bit excited, but as I read on it smelled of profiteering on the back of a natural disaster.

I really hope it's not how it appears.

Anyway, I also don't qualify as Japan doesn't need people over 29! Good on ya, Footprints and Japan!

Kionon · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:25 pm Post subject:

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject:

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

Kionon · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:08 pm Post subject: