Watch the Full Seminar: Beyond Term Limits – The 5-Year Rule and You!

If you weren’t able to join our recent seminar on Japan’s unlimited term contract conversion rights, the full recording is now available on YouTube. This two-hour session takes a deep dive into the 5-year rule, the history behind it, and the real-world challenges workers face when trying to secure unlimited-term employment.

Since Japan’s revised Labour Contract Act came into force in April 2013, fixed-term workers have had the legal right to convert to unlimited term contracts after five years. Despite this major protection, many workers still don’t know how the law applies to them, or how employers sometimes make the process unnecessarily difficult.

The seminar provides a detailed, accessible breakdown of everything you need to know.

What You’ll Learn in the Video

The Legal Framework:

A clear explanation of Article 18 of the Labour Contract Act: where it came from, what the five-year rule was designed to accomplish, and how it has been interpreted over the past decade.

University Teaching Positions:

A closer look at how the rule has reshaped academic employment. The video covers both the progress made and the problems that remain for part-time and full-time faculty on limited-term contracts.

The Ten-Year Exception:

An in-depth discussion of the special provision that extends the conversion period to ten years for certain research positions—and how some universities misuse this exception to avoid offering unlimited contracts.

Real-World Challenges and Solutions:

What actually happens when you apply for conversion? What should you expect afterward? The seminar outlines common obstacles, employer pushback tactics, and practical strategies to protect your rights and successfully convert.

Building Awareness:

The presentation also highlights how unions and workers can spread accurate information and support colleagues navigating the process.

Who Should Watch?

Anyone on repeated fixed-term contracts, Workers aiming to convert to unlimited term status, University instructors dealing with contract limits, Union members supporting coworkers through the process

Whether you’re directly affected or helping others understand their rights, this video is an essential resource.

👇 Watch the full seminar on YouTube to get the detailed guidance you need and learn how to take control of your employment security.