Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions of service will be determined by the contracting organization which employs the participant. Though the terms and conditions are generally as follows, they may differ by contracting organization.

A. Length of Contract

Contracts are for one year and 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 (July 26 or August 2, 2009) and come at a later date, the duration of the contract will be for a shorter period.  If a participant violates 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 the general rule up to two years (total, three years).  It is now possible in some host prefectures/designated cities for participants who demonstrate excellent work performance to re-contract up to a maximum of four times (total, five years).
Early termination of the contract on the part of the participant greatly affects the overall operation of the JET Program. As 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 their contracts.

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 contracting organization 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 a week, excluding lunch breaks. It is likely that participants will be required to work during normal Japanese office and/or school hours, which are usually 8:30 a.m. 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 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.              

B. Contracting Organizations/ Placement

The contracting organization in which each participant is placed is determined by discussion between CLAIR and the contracting organizations. Participants must sign a contract with the organization to which their services are assigned.

The Embassy and Japanese Consulates are not responsible for placements.  Any specific placement request should be indicated on Questions #16 and #22  on the application form. This is the only means by which such requests will be considered.  Applicants’ placement preferences are not guaranteed and are especially difficult to grant for alternates who are upgraded after the initial selection of participants. However, placement for participants with special circumstances, such as those listed below, will be taken into consideration. Rejection by the participant of the post offered will result in disqualification from the program.

Special Circumstances for Consideration
1. 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);
2. Spouse or other family members reside in Japan and therefore, moving to another location would be impossible or would cause a great hardship.

C. Remuneration

As employment on the JET Program is a full-time paid position, JET participants receive a monthly salary from their contracting organizations. Remuneration is approximately ¥3,600,000 a year, before Japanese income tax and resident’s taxes are deducted. 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 a year (see Note 7, page 12). In Japan, joining the national health insurance program, 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 on payday. This remuneration is sufficient to cover average living expenses in Japan.

D. Outside Work Prohibited

As a general rule, participants are prohibited from taking on any work other than that of this program during the durati on of their contracts.

E. Transportation to and from Japan

(1) Getting to Japan

Participants must arrive in Japan on July 26 or August 2, 2009 on a flight out of one of the designated departure cities (see Table 1 ). Your contracting organization will provide air tickets from the airport designated in your home country to Narita International Airport. Transportation to the designated airport in the participant’s home country will be the responsibility of the participant, while transportation from Narita Airport to the orientation site and host institution will be borne by the contracting organization.

If selected to interview, all U.S. applicants must interview in the U.S. at their own expense.  However, those residing in Japan prior to the start of the program are permitted to participate (not interview) from Japan. In principle, this is limited to participants whose status of residence can be changed from within 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 organizations. However, it is recommended that participants have their spouses and/or children arrive after they themselves arrive in Japan and find suitable housing. (Only a legal spouse is eligible for a dependent’s visa. A fiancée or person of equivalent status is ineligible.)

(2) Costs for Returning  Home

As a general rule, all participants not seeking further employment with their contracting 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 return to 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 a designated international airport by meeting the conditions above.

(3) Return of Travel Expenses

Participants who break their contracts without justifiable grounds, or are disqualified from the Program due to inappropriate behavior (either prior to departure for Japan or committed in Japan) must bear the full cost of returning home and must also reimburse the contracting organization for the cost of travel to Japan and may be subject to other reasonable actions or redresses.

F. Housing

Participants will be provided with adequate housing assistance from their contracting organizations. Although the contracting organization may handle 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. These may include shikikin (deposit), reikin (key money), real estate agency commission, and a deposit of at least one month’s rent. All of these costs must be paid upon arrival in Japan. The total amount is typically the equivalent of two to six-month’s rent. Rent is usually paid a month in advance and is approximately ¥30,000 to ¥60,000 per month, though often higher in more urban areas. Costs for maintenance and repair will be as specified in the housing contract.

G. Use of Personal Information

Any personal information submitted by applicants is limited to the necessary use by the Japanese Embassy and Consulates General, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, CLAIR, and individual Contracting Organizations (Including Host Prefectures/Designated Cities).