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JET Program |
Terms and Conditions
Terms and conditions of service will be determined by the contracting organization which employs the participant. Though the terms and conditions, in general, are as below, they may differ by contracting organization.
1. LENGTH OF CONTRACT
2. CONTRACTING ORGANIZATIONS / PLACEMENT
3. REMUNERATION
4. TRANSPORTATION
5. ACCOMMODATIONS
Contracts are for one year and generally commence on the day after the date of arrival in Japan. In the case of participants who are unable to arrive on the designated arrival dates and come at a later date, the duration of the contract will be for a shorter period. If a participant violated the rules determined by his or her contracting organization, the contract will be canceled even if prior to the end of the one-year period. If it is agreed upon by both the participant and the contracting organization, the contract may be extended for a period of one year, with a maximum of four extensions permissible (altogether, five years).
Early termination of the contract on the part of the participant greatly affects the overall operation of the JET Program (as the yearly schedules for schools and local government offices are made in advance, it also greatly inconveniences the contracting organization). All participants are expected to fulfill the full term of the contract.
Violation of the terms and conditions of the contract, such as prematurely leaving the program and/or returning home without justifiable reason, will result in corresponding measures to be taken, such as requiring the participant to reimburse the host institution for the cost of bringing said participant to Japan.
Participants are expected to be at the office and/or school an average of thirty-five hours per week, excluding lunch break. It is likely that participants will be required to work during normal Japanese office and/or school hours, which are 8:30 am. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese national holidays are generally days off. However, there are cases in which extra hours are required after usual office and/or school hours, or when participants are required to work on Saturdays, Sundays and/or Japanese national holidays. The number of paid holidays per year varies among contracting organizations but all participants are entitled to at least 10 days.
2. CONTRACTING ORGANIZATIONS / PLACEMENT
The contracting organization in which each participant is placed is determined by discussion between CLAIR and the contracting organizations. The Embassy and Consulates are not responsible for placements. Successful applicants are placed in the institutions to which they have been assigned. Any specific placement request should be written on the application form. This is the only means by which such requests will be accepted. Placement preferences on the part of the applicant cannot be guaranteed. Rejection by the participant of the post offered will result in disqualification from the program. However, placement for participants with special circumstances like those listed below will be taken into consideration.
Special Circumstances for Consideration
- Spouse applies at the same time (each spouse is treated as an individual applicant and placement together will be taken into consideration but cannot be guaranteed)
- Spouse or other family members reside in Japan, and move to or placement in another location would be impossible or a great hardship.
Remuneration per annum is approximately 3,600,000 yen after Japanese income and resident's taxes are deducted. Those exempt from Japanese income tax based upon a tax treaty between Japan and the participant's home country (like the US) will also receive approximately 3,600,000 yen per annum. Remuneration will be made in monthly payments. In Japan, joining the national health insurance, contributing to the pension fund program, and paying employment insurance is mandatory, and a part of these costs are borne by the participant and deducted from the monthly remuneration. This remuneration is a sufficient amount to cover average living expenses in Japan.
Going to Japan
Participants must arrive in Japan from one of the designated departure cities. Your contracting organization will provide air tickets from the airport designated in your home country to the New Tokyo International Airport (Narita). Transportation to the designated airport in the participant's home country will be the responsibility of the participant, while transportation for Narita Airport to the orientation site will be borne by the contracting organization.
All US applicants must interview in the US or Guam at their own expense if selected. Those residing in Japan prior to the start of the program are permitted to participate (not interview) from Japan. For those participants, transportation costs from the designated airport or railway station to the orientation site will be borne by the contracting organization. However, expenses incurred from the participant's home to the designated airport or train station will be paid by the participant. Participants living within 100 kilometers of Tokyo will be responsible for all costs incurred while traveling to the orientation site. From the orientation site, participants who will be in the same jurisdictional group will travel together to their respective contracting organizations. These costs will be the responsibility of the contracting organizations, therefore, traveling separately is not allowed.
Participants may bring their spouses and/or children to Japan at their own expense after informing their contracting organization. However, it is recommended that participants have their spouses and/or children arrive after the participants themselves arrive in Japan and find suitable housing.
Costs for Returning Home
As a general rule, all participants not seeking further employment with their contraction organization or a third party in Japan after the conclusion of their one-year contract will have their return ticket for a designated flight paid for if they depart from Japan and arrive at the designated airport in their home country within one month of completing their contract. Also, as a general rule, participants residing in Japan prior to the start of the program may also be eligible for a return ticket home to the designated international airport by meeting the conditions above.
Return of Travel Expenses
Participants who intend to return home or otherwise break their contracts without justifiable grounds must reimburse the contracting organization for the cost of the participant's ticket to Japan and may be subject to other reasonable actions or redresses.
Participants will be provided with adequate housing information from their contracting organizations. Although the contracting organization may handle the housing arrangements on behalf of the participant, the participant will be the contracting party and will be responsible for all housing costs incurred. In Japan, prior to finalizing a housing contract, several fees are incurred in addition to rent. Participants should recognize, as well, that accommodation conditions and rent vary between contracting organizations and geographic areas.