One of the key interests for any government in setting up a visa based immigration program is to limit the number of jobs that foreigners are allowed to occupy, thereby protecting the local workforce as much as possible. To enforce these protectionist policies, many countries, including Japan, require employers to check whether their foreign job applicants have legal status to work before hiring them.
Companies in Japan are required by law to check the Residence card of any foreigners applying to work for their company. Checking the Residence card allows the company to ensure that the foreigner is authorized to work in the field that the company does business in. Even part-time jobs require checking a foreigner’s Residence card.
Furthermore, when a company hires a foreign resident of Japan, the company is required to report the employment of the foreigner to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. This information is then passed on to the Ministry of Justice.
Upon receiving an application the Minister of Justice may issue a Certificate of Authorization for Employment that certifies that a foreign resident is authorized to receive income or reward for activities permitted by his or her visa. However, no employer shall discriminated against a foreigner for failure to produce such a certificate when it is evident that the person concerned is authorized to engage in the activities in question.
If you have any questions about residence in Japan, please contact our office for a legal consultation.