Job Discussion Forums

Lover · Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 86

I read the threads, but Sugita and Morgan Jones the two owners of USCOM and lil' kid were so kind, I thought I could trust them so I took a job with them. One would make a promise, the other would break the promise. Morgan promised me a cheap apartment, Sugita got me an expensive apartment. Morgan promised me free lunch to help me get back on my feet. They promised me the world.
Then came pay day, and this guy Martin a manager or thug for the company comes over and tells me I owe the company money because of bills. Sugita had charged me key money for moving into the apartment. He also charged me 20,000 yen for school lunch.
I then quit but have yet to be able to collect my last month's salary. Any advice?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Promises in japan by employers are not worth the paper (or not) they are written on. You have nothing to take to a union or a labor standards office except his word against theirs.

Call it naivete, but you should really get things in writing.

Have you been in touch with a union? My guess is a teachers union can not help you very much if you have already quit your job and you have tried to negotiate or bargain with your employers on your own. it gives the union very little wiggle room if you have already made conditions or threats that may compromise what a union can do for you.

I suggest you contact the national Union of general workers in Tokyo, but dont hold your breath.

PS didnt you sign a lease for the apartment as a tenant, and you moved in without the employer saying anything about key money? Did you even ask about what happens with key money or did you think it would be 'taken care of'?

PS employers are required by the Labor standards law to pay all salary within 7 days of you quitting your job so in this respect they are in breach of Japanese law. I dont know about the key money and thats something you may have to talk to a union or a lawyer about. I find it hard to believe you lapped all this up though with no mention of what your obligations were regarding key money etc.

As we say in Japan, "there is no such thing as a free lunch" and everything comes with a price tag.

Lover · Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 86

What is the national Union of general workers in Tokyo phone number? How do I find it?

I moved in without signing a lease, I thought everything was taken care of.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

If they are unwilling to take up a non-members case you should be able to get the telephone number of Labour Standards Office and go thru them. The other option is small claim courts which is relatively cheap if you have someone to help you with Japanese.

Lover · Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 86

[quote="Iwantmyrightsnow"]If they are unwilling to take up a non-members case you should be able to get the telephone number of Labour Standards Office and go thru them. The other option is small claim courts which is relatively cheap if you have someone to help you with Japanese.[/quote]

Labour Standards Office is a waste of tax payers money. Owners of corrupt companies should pay their salary. I am sorry, I mean owners of corrupt companies should be the only people they pay their salary.

You would not believe what they have told me. Even though, I have document proof, and Sugita has now written proof, they believed him because he is Japanese.

I will look into small claims court.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202