Culture and Education »JAPAN EXCHANGE AND TEACHING (JET) Programme
» THE 2011 JAPAN EXCHANGE AND TEACHING (JET) PROGRAMME »Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions of service will be determined by the contracting organisation which employs the participant. Though the terms and conditions in general are as below, they may differ by contracting organisation.
(1) Length of Appointment－Working hours
Appointments are for one year and commence on the day after the date of the participant’s arrival in Japan. The duration of the appointment will be shorter in cases where participants are unable to arrive in Japan on the designated A/B group orientation arrival dates and come at a later date. If a participant violates the rules determined by his/her contracting organisation, the appointment may be terminated prior to the end of the one-year period. If both the JET participant and the contracting organisation are in agreement, the appointment may be extended for one year, with two extensions permissible in principle (allowing for a total of three years on the Programme). Also, if after careful consideration the contracting organisation deems the JET Programme participant’s work performance, level of experience and ability to be of an exceptionally high standard, they may choose to extend appointment an additional two times (altogether, five years). Early termination of the appointment on the part of the participant seriously affects the overall implementation of the JET Programme (as yearly schedules for schools and local government are made in advance; it also causes great inconvenience to the contracting organisation). All participants are therefore required to fulfil the full term of the appointment.
Participants are expected to be at work approximately thirty-five hours a week, excluding lunch breaks. It is likely that participants will be required to work during normal Japanese office and/or general school hours, which are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese national holidays are days off. However, there are cases in which extra hours are required before/after usual office and/or school hours, or where participants are required to work on Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese national holidays. The number of paid holidays per year differs among contracting organisations, but all participants are entitled to at least ten days.
(2) Remuneration
Remuneration per annum is approximately JPY3,600,000 after Japanese income and resident’s taxes are deducted. This remuneration is a sufficient amount to cover average living expenses in Japan. Those exempt from these taxes based on a tax treaty between Japan and the participant’s home country will also receive approximately \3,600,000 per annum (See Note 9). Remuneration will be made in monthly payments. There may be times that participants have to temporarily pay a portion of income and resident taxes up front before being reimbursed at a later date.
In Japan, joining the national health insurance, contributing to the pension fund programme and paying employment insurance are mandatory. A part of these costs are borne by the participant and deducted from the monthly remuneration each month on payday.
(3) Side Job Prohibition
As a general rule, participants are prohibited from taking on any work other than that of this Programme for the duration of their appointment.
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