Parental Leave Problems: Part 2No Position, No Job? Not So Fast.
Beth* had worked for the same company for several years before taking maternity and childcare leave. As her childcare leave…
Parental Leave Problems: Part 1 – What Happens If You’re Not Covered by Shakai Hoken?
Having the right to take maternity leave does not necessarily mean you will have an income while you are away…
Maternity and Childcare Leave: Protected Doesn’t Always Mean Paid
Japan provides strong protections for workers taking maternity and childcare leave. Childcare leave, for example, is generally available until a…
Shakai Hoken and Retirement – A Member’s Story
In 1995 I got my first full time contract to teach at a Junior College. I was told I had…
Why am I worth 20% less than yesterday?
For many workers in Japan, turning 60 is no longer the end of their working lives. With retirement ages rising…
When Retirement Comes with a Hitch
When will a university teacher be asked to retire? At one university, the answer depends on the type of contract…
Missing Pension Contributions Can Cost You for Life
When people think about social insurance (shakai hoken, or 社会保険), they usually think about health insurance or the deductions from…
Understanding Japan’s Pension System: Are You Building Your Retirement Security?
Japan’s pension system is designed around one basic idea: people build pension coverage throughout much of their adult lives so…
Retirement in Japan: Understanding Your Pension and Planning for the Future
The pension you receive in retirement is being built throughout your working life. Knowing how the system works, when you…
Let’s Expand the Fight to Win Back Our Pension Rights!
Following the courageous legal action taken by General Union member Fred Ramos, two former Interac employees who are also union…
The General Union’s Fight Against Illegal Exclusion from Social Insurance
Progress in 2025 and the Struggle Ahead in 2026 In 2025, one of the struggles the General Union fought hardest was…
When Crime Pays: Japan’s Social Insurance Enforcement Charade
Imagine if the only penalty for dangerous speeding was being told to slow down. No fines, no licence points, no…
Don’t be Number 970 Thousand and One: How Employers Cheat Workers out of Pensions
Summary: Nearly one million workers in Japan are being illegally excluded from Kosei Nenkin, losing pension coverage they’re entitled to. Employers…
Thanks for Your Service, Now Pay Up! Altia’s Parting Gift to ALTs
In recent negotiations, the union formally demanded that Altia Central increase wages and extend contracts through March 31. Every March,…
Universities Must Cough Up: The Real Costs of Insurance Exclusion
The General Union has scored major victories at three universities, forcing them to finally enrol part-time teachers with 10+ koma…