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ECC Frequently Asked Questions
Dismissals/Non-renewals
Dismissals/Non-renewalsDismissalsDismissals, mid-contract, are quite rare at ECC. If you are dismissed, ECC must provide at least 30 days notice or payment in lieu there of. The law does allow for dismissals without 30 days notice but only under exceptional circumstances.The ECC workcode lists a number of reasons people can be dismissed with 30 days notice. Beware, these do not all conform with the law. Contact your union rep immediately if you are dismissed.
Non-renewalscoming soon
Housing
Personal ExperiencesI went through ECC when I first came to Japan. I got put in the Takatsuki house that so many Kansai ECCers have been through. I was paying 67,000 a month as were my two roommates for a three LDK. This was already way more than I would have to pay elsewhere in Takatsuki, but when I heard that we might be getting another roommate, turning the 3LDK to a 4DK I knew I needed to get out. I've since heard that there are now, in fact, four people crammed into the apartment. My heart goes out to them.
ECC Arranged HousingECC will arrange housing for employees. Going through them has some advantages, namely convenience. They handle all the necessary work with the landlords, you just show up and sign the contract. The landlord or a representative will even pick you up and take you to your new place. The main disadvantage with ECC arranged housing is cost. You are paying far above market value for your apartment, and are forced to sign a three month minimum contract, so you can't move out immediately. The convenience of arranged housing means it might be a good idea for someone coming to Japan for the first time, but it is often possible to find cheaper housing through the internet before you get here, and if you have a place to stay temporarily it is usually possible to find a less expensive place fairly quickly. In the end it's up to you: many people just start with the arranged housing and use the mandatory three months to find a new place to stay.
ECC As GuarantorYou are often required to have a guarantor (hoshonin) to move into new accommodation. In the past, ECC has been willing to act as guarantor in the Kansai area. However, ECC will no longer be guarantor, leaving teachers with limited accommodation options.
Government HousingAnother housing option that many people don't know about is Government Housing. Depending on what city, or prefecture, you reside in there may be 2 or 3 different types - City, Prefectural, and Housing & Urban Development Corporation.These apartments are often cheaper than market price and come with the benefit of a relatively low deposit that is often fully refundable. A link for the UDC can be found found here. It provides access to offices Japan-wide, with details of locations and prices.
Housing Resources - KansaiThe following links are provided but do not come with any recommendation or guarantee.
Classified Ads
Gaijin Houses
Housing Vocabulary
Insurance-Employment InsurancePrior to 1998, ECC refused to enroll its employees in unemployment insurance as required by Labour Standards Law. This meant that if you were fired, or your contract was not renewed, you would be without income until your next job. In March 1998, the General Union won a commitment from ECC that it would enroll all eligible employees in the unemployment insurance scheme. Instructors at ECC now have a guaranteed income in the event that they are dismissed or non-renewed. In the event that you resign, there is a wait of around 3 months before you can receive unemployment insurance.Both ECC and the employee make monthly contributions to the scheme, with your portion being around 2000yen per month. Depending on your age and length of employment you are entitled to between 60-80% of your monthly salary for 90-270 days. For those under 45 years of age and with less than 5 years in the scheme (majority of ECC instructors) you would be entitled to 60% for 90 days. This gives you breathing space to either help you find another job in Japan or decide to return to your home country. Contact the General Union if you are not enrolled.
ResignationsHow much notice do you need to give ECC to quit? Can you be fined for not completing the contract?Article 55 (Resignation as Requested by Employee) of the ECC Work Code says "When employee wishes to resign for personal reasons, a request shall be made in writing to his/her supervisor at least two months in advance and receive approval from ECC for such request". We highly recommend that first year teachers give two months notice as required by the contract. Beyond the first contract, case law shows that it is generally not necessary and as little as two weeks notice is sufficient. Members should contact the union for more details.ECC have in the past threatened to sue teachers for not giving 2 months notice but it has proven to be a hollow threat. We do recommend teachers give as much notice as possible. Just as the union expects ECC to play fair and follow the law, it is also reasonable for the company to expect teachers to play fair and follow their contracts. It is illegal for any company to fine you for not completing a contract. Smaller employers will often try but ECC follows the law in this regard. If you resign, ECC cannot have your visa revoked but you should refer to your nearest immigration office for the most recent information.
A more comprehensive list of Immigration Bureaus and Regional Centres can be found here.
TaxesAs required by law, city and national taxes are deducted from your salary. National income tax is usually around ￥10-15,000 monthly. Generally speaking, city taxes will be deducted from your 2nd contract. This is approximately ￥5-8,000 monthly.
Holidays - Annual Paid Leavecoming soon
Holidays - NationalECC currently offers paid vacation on all National Holidays. This is not a requirement of Japanese labour law, but is common in many industries throughout the country. Many National Holidays occur on a Monday, meaning teachers who have Monday as one of their regular days off miss out on these holidays. There is currently no program for days-in-lieu to make up for these missed days.
Sick LeaveJapanese law has no provision for sick leave. Some companies do provide paid sick leave but ECC does not. At ECC employees may choose whether to use one of their days of annual paid leave (ALP's) or take an unpaid day of absence. This decision can be made prior to missing the day, or even after the day has already been missed. ECC prefers teachers to use an ALP, or it may affect your annual salary increase.For those of you who become ill and are under the care of a physician, and unable to work, Shakai Hoken (employer based health/pension) provides 60% of your salary for up to 18 months.
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