At first glance, hiring workers or contractors in Japan could seem like a demanding task. While there are many reasons why you might wish to conduct business in Japan, there are a number of things you should know about the country’s payroll system.
The tax and labor laws in your own nation may seem second nature to you, but can the same be said for those in Japan?
By choosing payroll services from an expert payroll firm, you can eliminate the stress and pain of trying to figure everything out on your own and take the guesswork out of growing your business.
What should you know about Payroll Outsourcing Japan?
There are the usual details like working hours, holidays, and paid time off. Then there are the more complicated topics like benefits and firing employees.
Here is a brief summary:
Japan’s minimum salary and currency
Japanese workers are paid in yen (), and the national minimum wage varies slightly depending on the prefecture (Japan is divided into 47 geographical jurisdictions). The minimum wage in the larger cities is 985 yen in Tokyo, 936 yen in Osaka, and 882 yen in Kyoto.
Japanese working schedule
In Japan, eight hours a day, or an average of 40 hours per week, are considered standard working hours.
In Japan, a typical workday begins at 8:30 in the morning and ends at 7 in the evening.
The hours could change, though, from 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. Additionally, it’s not unusual for employees to work considerably later—sometimes until 9 or 10 p.m.
Japanese laws prohibit overtime
Unless they have a managerial position, workers who clock in more than the required 40 hours per week must be paid overtime. Japanese businesses frequently demand and expect their employees to work a specific number of overtime hours.
However, employers in the nation who wish to require regular overtime from their employees must have a formal contract between management and the employee. The employer is required to report this agreement, known as “article 36,” to Japan’s Labor Standards Inspection.
An employee may only put in a maximum of five hours per day of overtime when they are asked to work overtime or on holidays. This translates to 45 hours each month and 365 hours year. The formula for calculating overtime pay is as follows:
Extra time: 25.00% more
Evening: an extra 25.00%
Weekends and holidays: An extra 35.00% Evenings (after overtime): An extra 50.00%
Holiday: an additional 60.00% (starting at night)
Japan’s minimum wage standards
The minimum wage in Japan is set by law and, as previously mentioned, differs by prefecture. Employers are required to pay their minimum wage employees a yearly income of $1,334,566.84 on a monthly basis.
Promotions are based on experience and aptitude, and seniority is also rewarded for workers in Japan.
Termination pay in Japan
There are no statutory requirements for severance pay in Japan. Therefore, while paying severance pay does make for an enticing benefits package, most businesses are not required to give it to their Japanese employees.
However, the Labor Standards Act in Japan does stipulate that any unpaid wages must be paid by the employer within seven days of the employee’s discharge.
Payroll Outsourcing service providers in Japan: how to begin assembling your staff
Once you’ve made the decision to hire Japanese workers, there are a few different ways to handle payroll. However, selecting a superior payroll solution in Japan is the easiest method to ensure 100% compliance.