[Free] Consult about Your Problems at Work & Japan Labor Laws at the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (TECC) | Guidable - Your Guide to a Sustainable, Wellbeing-centred Life in Japan

[Free] Consult about Your Problems at Work & Japan Labor Laws at the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (TECC)

By Alex Gray Aug 3, 2020

Did you know you can go to the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center and talk with a consultant about your problems at work and labor laws in Japan, for free?

Talk about work problems, Japan labor laws, and more at the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center

“I don’t know who to contact for labor advice.”

Many of you may be wondering…

“What precautions should I take after being hired or hiring?”

We will introduce you to the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, where you can consult and resolve your work and employment issues for free!
We asked the Center’s perspective about “what should be taken in attention when hiring a foreigner.” Let’s see what came up!

What is the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (TECC)?

TECC (Tokyo Employment Consultation Center) is an organization that provides free labor management support for venture businesses and overseas companies.

Consultations are available on the 7th floor of the ARK Mori Building in Minato-ku, Tokyo.

TECC was established in January 2015 under the Cabinet Office and the National Strategic
Special Zones Law.

This initiative began in Fukuoka and now has seven centers across the country.

They use the “Employment Guidelines,” established for employment rule clarification, to provide consultation on labor and employment-related issues.

They can advise you on a wide range of topics, including drafting work rules and employment contracts.

Their service is also multilingual and is used by many foreigners.

What Are the Labor Issues in Japan?

The background for this initiative is the high number of labor-related problems in Japan.
From a professional’s point of view, Japan’s employment-related laws and regulations are complex and challenging to understand. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, there are more than one million labor consultations a year. The most important thing is to prevent labor-related problems before they occur.
In recent years, labor-related issues such as harassment and work style revisions have become more complex, and it has become essential to have the proper knowledge of the work we do.

Flexible Consultation Services

2,000 clients used the service in the last fiscal year.

More than 50 attorneys and employees are stationed at the office on a rotating basis, allowing you to provide a quick and flexible consultation service at any time.
During business hours (weekdays from 9:00 to 21:00), they can respond with no time cap to your consultation.

Furthermore, if you use the online consultation, you can consult from your home or workplace, and you can use it with peace of mind in the current situation.
Please feel free to use this service.
*(Consultations at the consultation window are also being carried out under COVID-19 infection prevention measures.)

Adjacent to the facility is the Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center and the ‘Business Concierge Tokyo,’ where foreign company business matching and lifestyle bilingual consultations are available.

What can I consult about at the Tokyo Employment Counseling Center?

Here are some of the people who use their consultation services.

This service is mainly available to those who meet the following criteria.

(1) Companies that have just opened for business in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area National Strategic Zone (generally within five years) and companies aiming to open a new business.
(2) Companies aiming to expand into the Tokyo Metropolitan Area National Strategic Area
(3) Companies located in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area National Strategy Zone and workers (including those who wish to work) from companies in (1) to (3) above.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Area includes Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Chiba Cities in Chiba Prefecture and Narita City. The service is intended for people who have just started their own businesses (around five years) or who are aiming to become entrepreneurs.

Employer/business users

・Personnel and labor relations personnel
・Businesses with overseas offices in Asia, etc.
・Management in global companies thinking about expanding into Japan
・Management in recruitment venture companies

As you can see, there is a wide range of users. The service is also used by a wide variety of people regardless of industry and company size.

Here are a few real-life cases.

① Venture Company Management
Problem: I heard that I have to specify working conditions at the time of hiring. What exactly should I make clear?
Consultation result: The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare’s “Employment Guidelines” were carefully explained, and it became clear what we should do.

② Global Company Management
Problem: How should I bear the cost of introducing telework?
Consultation result: We received advice on preventing problems from occurring, such as the need for employees and management to discuss the matter sufficiently in advance and to stipulate it in the work rules.
Also, TECC’s consultants are good at listening to details and finding other risks than those discussed in the consultation.

Click here for consultation aimed at management →https://t-ecc.jp/lp/owner/

Employees are also welcome to consult!
Many workers use this service.
Here are a few cases.

① Venture Company Employee
Problem: After changing to a new job at a venture company, I felt that the job description was different from what I expected when I joined.
Consultation result: I was able to confirm what rights I have from the worker’s side and how to clarify the solution.

② Small Business Employee
Concern: I want to make sure that my employment status and my actual work are not different.
Consultation result: I was able to confirm how my employment contract is structured.

TECC is happy to discuss even the most trivial concerns.
Click here for consultation aimed at employees → https://t-ecc.jp/lp/employee/

What kind of consultations do you often receive when hiring foreigners?
In recent years, an increasing number of businesses have begun to consider hiring foreigners due to a shortage of workers.

Here’s what kind of consultation people come to TECC for, and what cases they handle.

They can discuss even the most straightforward details.
Many people feel uneasy about how to make employment contracts and procedures when hiring foreigners. The number of such consultations is increasing.
Some people come for a consultation with no information at all; they “want to start hiring foreigners but don’t know where to start.”
It is too late if you find out your employee is “actually working illegally even though we thought they were eligible to work.”

To prevent problems in advance, let’s start with a consultation!
Gaps in understanding labor issues cause most of the problems between foreign workers and their employers.
It is essential to check what kind of problems arise and what can happen if you hire your own workers!

TECC invites you to avoid employment problems by first going for a consultation.
They can be flexible in terms of multilingual and online support.
They can consult with you on all your labor matters, even the most trivial ones.
They are available to both employers and workers.
Again, after problems occur, its already too late! If you have any concerns or questions about labor issues, consult with a professional to resolve them, even if they are trivial!

The consultation is completely free, so why not use it?

For more information:
https://t-ecc.jp/

Management Consultation Form: https://t-ecc.jp/lp/owner/

Employee Consultation Form: https://t-ecc.jp/lp/employee/

Contact the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center for all your work problems!

If you’re having problems at work, or are thinking of changing jobs and don’t know your rights then why not contact the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center? They are ready to consult with you about any kind of employment concern or worry before an issue occurs.