Employment insurance (雇用保険) in Japan for foreign workers

Yes, foreign workers are covered by employment insurance (雇用保険) in Japan, on the same terms as Japanese workers. You are enrolled if you work 20 or more scheduled hours a week and are expected to be employed for 31 days or more. As of October 2026, you pay 0.5% of your wages and your employer pays more. Daytime students are excluded.

Do foreigners have to join employment insurance in Japan?

Yes. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) says labor and social insurance laws apply to foreigners regardless of nationality. Your employer enrolls you. You do not apply yourself.

You are insured when both are true:

• 20 hours or more of scheduled work a week.
• A job expected to last 31 days or more.

The 31-day test is met unless it is clear the job will end sooner. A contract shorter than 31 days still counts if it says it may be renewed, or if similar contracts have lasted 31 days or more.

Who is not covered?

The Employment Insurance Act excludes, among others:

• People with under 20 scheduled hours a week.
• People not expected to work 31 days or more for the same employer.
• Daytime students (昼間学生).
• Employees of national and local government.
• Some seasonal workers and day laborers.

If you are on a student status and work part-time, you are normally not enrolled. Whether a particular course counts as daytime is decided case by case, so ask Hello Work, the public employment office. Agency (dispatch) workers on daily contracts or contracts of 30 days or less may instead be enrolled as day-laborer insured persons.

How much is employment insurance in Japan?

Your premium is a percentage of your total wages, taken from your pay. The rates below run from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.

On ¥300,000 of wages in a general business, you pay ¥1,500. The rate was 0.55% in FY2025 (April 2025 to March 2026). The employer’s share includes 0.35% (0.45% in construction) for employment programs that workers do not pay. For other deductions, see take-home pay in Japan.

What does employment insurance pay for?

More than unemployment pay. According to Hello Work, it covers job loss, self-funded vocational training, childcare leave and shorter hours.

• Unemployment pay. The basic allowance (基本手当) needs 12 insured months in the 2 years before you leave. Amounts, waiting times and the claim steps are in unemployment benefits in Japan for foreigners.
• Training grants (教育訓練給付金). Since 1 October 2024, up to 80% of the course cost for designated courses, up from 70%.
• Training leave benefit. From 1 October 2025, a new benefit like the basic allowance for insured people who take leave from work to study.
• Childcare leave benefits (育児休業給付). Paid to insured parents on childcare leave. See maternity and childcare leave for the leave itself.

How do I check that my employer enrolled me?

Foreign workers are sometimes missed. Your employer must also tell Hello Work your status of residence (在留資格) when you start and when you leave. Failure to report can bring a fine of up to ¥300,000 for the employer. Special permanent residents and 外交 or 公用 status holders are outside this reporting duty.

If you should have been enrolled but weren’t, you can be enrolled retroactively. When you leave, ask for your separation notice (離職票), which you need to claim benefits.

What changes in October 2028?

The minimum is set to fall from 20 to 10 scheduled hours a week from 1 October 2028, under a law passed in May 2024. More part-time workers will then be insured. We have not confirmed the detailed rules, so check Hello Work closer to the date.

More guides

• Unemployment benefits in Japan for foreigners
• National Health Insurance for foreigners
• Japanese pension for foreigners
• Labor rights for foreign workers
• Quitting a job in Japan and your visa