-The real benefits only available through shakai hoken- 

Dennis Tesolat, General Secretary of the General Union, never imagined he’d become a beneficiary of the very system he’d fought to enforce. At 39, a sudden spinal cord hematoma left him paralyzed from the waist down, with two young children and a stay-at-home wife to support. 

“If this had happened when I first came to Japan, working for a language school that didn’t enroll migrants in health insurance, I’d have been in serious trouble,” Dennis reflects. Instead, thanks to proper enrolment in the Employees’ Health and Pension Insurance, he received crucial support. 

The first lifeline was shobyoteate – income support for those unable to work due to non-work-related illness or injury. “For 18 months, I received 60% of my salary. It’s not a lot, but with four people to support it keeps the wolves from the door,” Dennis explains. This allowed him to focus on recovery and rehabilitation without the pressure to return to work prematurely. 

The second crucial benefit came in the form of a disability pension. “The amount I receive from the Employees’ Pension is about three times what I would have gotten under the National Pension scheme,” Dennis notes. “You can’t raise a family on 70,000 yen a month.” 

These benefits underscore why the General Union has been campaigning tirelessly since the early 2000s for proper insurance enrolment. Dennis’s experience – both as an advocate and a beneficiary – serves as a powerful reminder of the real-world impact of these often-overlooked protections. 

“I’ve seen too many people come through our door without insurance, facing catastrophic health issues like brain cancer and Multiple Sclerosis,” Dennis concludes. “My story could have been very different. That’s why we keep fighting.” 

Does your company enroll you in shakai hoken? Coming this October, the law will change, making it easier to enroll. Check if you are eligible and get in touch with us.