As many of you may already know, special measures are currently in place for those who have been dismissed, stopped working, or placed on call at home due to deteriorating employment conditions caused by the spread of the　coronavirus infection. Since the coronavirus infection is spreading wider again and in talking with customers, I felt these measures might not be wildly known, I would like to explain the special measures.

Those who still have a residency period

The following people with a working visa, such as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visas, can stay in Japan without changing their current status of residence (visa).

(1) Those who have received a notice of dismissal or termination of employment from their employer and wish to look for a job.

(2) Those who have been ordered by their employers to standby and wish to return to work

(3) Those who have been ordered by their employers to shorten their working days and hours and wish to continue to work.

(4) Others who are equivalent to (1) to (3) above

Some of the above people may want to work part-time to make a living. There are measures in place to make it possible to work part-time for up to 28 hours a week, including simple work, by applying for “permission to engage in activity other than that permitted”. You can apply for it by submitting documents proving that you cannot work and cannot maintain your life due to the company’s circumstances. The period of activity other than that permitted will be six months or until the expiration date of the current status of residence, whichever comes first.

Those who will reach the expiration date of current visa

If you are canceled a job offer, dismissed, suspended employment, ordered to stay at home, or shortened your work schedule, and your current period of stay is about to expire, you can change your status of residence to “Designated Activities (Job Hunting)”.  You need to submit proof that your situation is caused by the circumstances of your company.

You can also apply for “permission to engage in activity other than that permitted“. The period will be six months or until the expiration date of the current status of residence, whichever comes first.

In addition,

(1) If the remaining waiting period (for your work) does not exceed one month

(2) If you are operating with reduced work hours and your work hours exceed your standby hours

you can extend your period of stay with your current status of residence. In this case, in principle, the period of stay will be one year.

Attention!

You are to return to work

If you are to return to work, you should apply for a change of status of residence as soon as possible.

Get your company’s consent

If you are applying for “permission to engage in activity other than that permitted“ during a waiting period or a shortened work period, you must obtain consent from your employer. You should also state that you have obtained consent at the time of application.

In conclusion

Due to the long-term effects of the spread of the coronavirus, there are many people, not only foreign national, who are worried about their life due to the loss of income. Until now, those with working visas such as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”  were not allowed to work part-time. Currently, special measures are in place for people affected by the corona crisis and can work part-time.

We hope that these measures can help them overcome the problem.