The terms and conditions of service will be determined by the contracting organisation which employs the participant. Though terms and conditions in general are as below, they may differ by contracting organisation.
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 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 organisation, the contract will be cancelled even if prior to the end of the one-year period. If it is agreed upon by both the participant and the contracting organisation, the contract may be extended for a period of one year, with a maximum of two extensions permissible (altogether, three years). However, beginning in the 2002 JET Program year, it has become possible to re-contract in some host prefectures/designated cities for a fourth or fifth year as an Elementary School ALT or Specialist Prefectural Advisor provided the participant passes a screening process for these positions.
Early termination of the contract on the part of the participant greatly affects the overall running of the JET Programme. As yearly schedules for schools and local government offices are made in advance, it also greatly inconveniences the contracting organisation. All participants are expected to fulfil the full term of the contract.
Violation of the terms and conditions of the contract such as prematurely leaving the programme and/or returning home without justifiable reason will result in corresponding measures to be taken, such as requiring the participant to reimburse the contracting organisation 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 when participants are required to work on Saturdays, Sundays and/or Japanese national holidays. The number of paid holidays per year varies among contracting organisations but all participants are entitled to at least 10 days.
The contracting organisation in which each participant is placed is determined by discussion between CLAIR and the contracting organisation. Participants must sign a contract with the organisation to which their services are assigned.
The Embassy and Japanese consulates are not responsible for placements. 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 programme. However, placement for participants with special circumstances like those listed below will be taken into consideration.
(Special Circumstances for Consideration)
Remuneration per annum is approximately ¥3,600,000 after Japanese income 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 per annum*. Remuneration will be made in monthly payments. 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. This remuneration is a sufficient amount to cover average living expenses in Japan.
*South African participants pay Japanese tax and are not responsible for the payment of South African tax while on the JET Programme.
As a general rule, participants are prohibited from taking on any work other than that of this programme during the duration of their contracts.
Your contracting organization will provide air tickets from the airport designated in your home country to Narita Airport in Japan.
Transportation to Johannesburg International Airport will be arranged for participants from Cape Town and Durban. Participants residing in other areas will be responsible for their transport to Johannesburg International Airport.
Transportation from Narita Airport to the orientation site will be borne by the contracting organisation.
As a general rule, all participants not seeking further employment with their contracting organisation after the conclusion of their 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
Participants who intend to return home or otherwise break their contracts without justifiable grounds must reimburse the contracting organisation 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 organisations. Although the contracting organisation may handle the housing arrangements on behalf of the participant, the participant will be the contracting party and be responsible for all housing costs incurred. In Japan, prior to finalizing a housing contract, several fees are incurred in addition to rent.
These 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 most major cities.
Costs for maintenance and repair will be as specified in the housing contract.
Please note that depending on the contract, costs for repair and/or unpaid rent are deducted from the housing deposit and the remaining balance is refunded upon leaving. Participants should recognise, as well, that accommodation conditions and rent vary between contracting organisations and geographic areas.