For many workers in Japan, every contract renewal brings the same question: Will I be offered another contract when this one ends?

Many General Union members work on fixed-term contracts, often lasting just one year. While these contracts may be renewed, they come with no firm guarantee of continued employment. Even long-serving employees can find themselves facing the same uncertainty year after year.

The Japanese government recognized this problem and in 2013 amended the Labour Contract Act to introduce the Unlimited-Term Conversion Rule. After five years of continuous employment on fixed-term contracts (ten years for certain university positions), eligible workers gain the right to request an unlimited-term contract. Once a valid request is made, the employer must accept it.

When the first workers became eligible in 2018, General Union worked to inform members of their rights and help them apply for conversion. At first, some employers resisted or misunderstood the new obligation, and General Union needed to step in to make sure valid requests were accepted. We still encounter resistance in various forms from time to time, but most employers now process conversion requests without difficulty. Many of our members have left behind the annual uncertainty surrounding their future employment and now enjoy the peace of mind that comes with increased job security. 

However, the option to convert to an unlimited-term contract is still not widely understood. Throughout this month, we’ll explain how unlimited-term contract conversion works, clear up common misconceptions, and share examples of how General Union has helped workers secure more stable employment.