For most fixed-term workers in Japan, the right to request an unlimited-term contract (UTC) begins after five years of continuous employment. However, many university teachers face a different reality.

When the Labour Contract Act was amended, the government introduced a special exception for certain university teachers and researchers. Because academic research projects often continue over many years, the qualifying period for unlimited-term conversion was extended from five years to ten for many positions in higher education.

Although the intention was to support long-term research and provide universities with greater flexibility, the longer qualifying period has also meant that many university teachers spend far more years in insecure employment before becoming eligible for the same protections available to most other workers.

Some universities have taken this a step further by limiting the number of times a contract can be renewed. Instead of allowing teachers to remain employed long enough to qualify for unlimited-term conversion, contracts simply end before eligibility is reached. As a result, many teachers find themselves moving from one university to another every few years, never able to build the long-term career they had hoped for.

This revolving-door approach has contributed to growing instability within higher education. For some, the lack of job security has even become a reason to leave university teaching altogether.

The General Union has long supported university workers facing these issues. Whether you have questions about the 10-year rule or believe your employer is structuring contracts to prevent you from becoming eligible for unlimited-term conversion, we’re here to help you understand your rights and protect your future.

Are you a university teacher? You may want to take part in our HOOK campaign!

Hook Part 1 – A decade of proactive defence

Hooke Part 2 – Leveraging Labour Laws

Hook Part 3 – Strengthening our Stand