When accepting foreigners with specific skills, the biggest hurdle for companies is “multilingual living and work support for foreigners”. Many companies outsource this complicated support work to registered support organizations registered with the government. However, there are thousands of registration support organizations across Japan, and there are wide differences in pricing, quality of support, and track record. If you choose the wrong company, they won’t be able to help you when a problem arises, which could lead to foreigners retiring early. This time, we will teach you how to choose a registration support organization that will not fail you.
目次
1. Detailed background and latest trends in Japan
When choosing a registration support organization, the first point to compare is “transparency and appropriateness of costs.” Generally, the fees paid to a registered support organization include an “initial fee” such as initial visa application agency fees, and a “monthly support commission fee” for monthly support operations. The market price for monthly support outsourcing fees is around 15,000 to 30,000 yen per foreigner. What you should be careful about here is whether the price shown includes “night support costs,” “trouble accompanying costs,” “translation costs,” etc. Even if the price list looks cheap at first glance, there are many problems in which a large amount of fees are later charged as actual costs.
Important data and problem analysis that tell the truth
- First characteristic (rapid expansion of market needs and background): The labor shortage in Japan is a structural problem, and the demand for ready-to-work human resources is rapidly increasing, especially in the manufacturing and service industries. Data has proven that the specific skills system guarantees a certain level of work experience and Japanese language proficiency, so there are very few mismatches in the initial stages of introduction.
- Second feature (required language skills and educational system): In order to obtain a Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa, it is mandatory to pass a Japanese language proficiency test (N4 or JFT-Basic) at a daily conversation level or above, but additional Japanese language education on industry terminology and work safety is effective for smoothly communicating instructions on site.
- Third feature (same or higher salary treatment and motivation): Japanese laws and regulations strictly prohibit creating discriminatory disparities in working conditions such as basic pay and bonuses compared to Japanese employees working in the same business within the same company. Having a fair evaluation system in place is the key to preventing employee turnover and boosting morale across the team.
2. Important institutional rules and legal compliance
The next important point is the variety of languages supported and the quality of support staff. The law stipulates that support for foreigners with specific skills must be provided in “a language that foreigners can fully understand.” If the person to be hired is Vietnamese, it is essential that the support organization has native staff who speak Vietnamese, and if they are Nepali, they speak Nepali. It is also important that the interpreter is not only capable of interpreting, but also a professional who is familiar with Japanese Immigration Bureau procedures and the Labor Standards Act. Check to see if they have the quickest response time to rush to the scene in the event of an emergency or a problem with government procedures.
Important check sheet to prevent problems from occurring
- [Check 1] Multilingualization of employment contract documents: When hiring, it is necessary to obtain the foreigner’s agreement by providing and explaining in advance a “terms of employment” that specifies the wage breakdown, holidays, overtime work rules, etc. in his or her native language, which the foreigner can fully understand.
- [Check 2] Ensure payment of social insurance and taxes: It is mandatory to enroll in social insurance and to deduct and pay resident tax and pension from your salary. If you are in arrears, your visa renewal application (usually every 1 or 3 years) will be rejected and you will not be able to continue working in Japan.
- [Check 3] Ensuring appropriate space in the living environment: The legal minimum area for the room in which a foreigner resides is 7.5 square meters or more (bedroom area) per person, and is subject to strict immigration screening.
3. Specific practical points and solutions
The third point is “understanding and track record of your company’s industry.” Specified skills are divided into 12 industrial fields, such as eating out, food and beverage manufacturing, construction, and agriculture, and each industry has industry-specific regulations (notification to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, industry group guidelines, etc.). If you choose a support organization that does not have a track record of providing support in the field to which your company belongs, there is a risk that legal procedures will be overlooked, and in the worst case scenario, your company’s eligibility for acceptance may be revoked. It is important to check with potential support organizations in advance to see how long they have provided support in this industry and whether they understand the flow of specific procedures.
For detailed information and support plans for safely and effectively utilizing the Specified Skills System, please visit this page on our website.“Company information”Please take a look at it and use it to create an appropriate plan.
4. Summary and future prospects
Registration support organizations are not just agents for administrative procedures, but are “joint partners” that help foreign employees work with peace of mind and companies grow their businesses. Rather than making a decision based solely on price competition, please thoroughly check the track record, language support, and sincerity of responses through interviews and inquiries, and select the partner that is best suited for your company.