Ohayo Japan Japanese freelancers walk tough road with no contracts

By Eom Da-sol

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan has released statistics showing that 20 percent of more than 10 million freelancers in the nation have no contract with their companies.

Among about 10.6 million freelancers, counted by Japanese crowd-sourcing company Lancers, 19 percent had only verbal contracts, the ministry’s February statement said.

Without contracts, freelancers often have to handle intense workloads and/or accept unsatisfactory wages or rewards.

“Japanese companies lack a streamlined contract system for freelancers,” journalist Madoka Nakano said on Yahoo Japan News on Mar. 8.

“Japanese freelancers do not often get paid properly. Even their companies do not know their salaries.”

“They sometimes get paid much less than they expected.”

Japanese companies have traditionally hired regular workers. They have only recently started using freelancers, the journalist added.

“Companies should first discuss with the freelancers the financial rewards and job description,” Nakano said.

“Japanese generally do not state the exact salary clearly because they do not like to do this.”

“But it is required for an appropriate business relationship.”

Nakano said signing contracts would guarantee freelancers’ salaries and protection.

On Mar. 13, METI said it would launch supportive measures to protect freelancers’ labor rights.

These included work insurance programs, guidelines for contracts, guarantee of severance pay, and priority loans.