8 Tips to Know When Hiring Foreign Part-Time Workers
When talking with business owners around me who employ international students as part-time workers, I find that very many of them are hiring without knowing anything about the required procedures or precautions. Of course, sometimes everything goes smoothly, but when a problem arises, things can get complicated.
The best approach is to check everything you need before hiring and to sign an employment contract. If you prepare well in this way, you can easily resolve any problems that may arise later, and you can even move up the start date.
The information below applies only to student visas (D-2, D-4); please note that other visas are subject to separate requirements.
[Job Posting Stage]
1. State the exact working hours
For international student (D2, D4) visas, permitted working hours on weekdays and weekends are fixed. If you clearly state the exact working hours, separated into weekdays and weekends, applicants can apply according to their own permitted hours, and you as the employer can reduce unnecessary inquiries.
See permitted working hours for international students
2. 💡 (Important) Request a work permit
Make it clear that you will check the work permit before hiring. This screens out in advance applicants who intend to work without permission. You can think of students with a permit as having been officially confirmed by the immigration office as eligible to work.
[Employment Contract Stage]
3. Check a copy of the Residence Card and a bank account in the worker's own name
Be sure to check a copy of the Residence Card and a bank account in the foreigner's own name. People working illegally are often reluctant to submit these, so be sure to check them; the foreign registration number will also be needed later for expense documentation.
4. Write an employment contract
An employment contract must be written, and the working hours and break times must be stated accurately.
Ministry of Employment and Labor Standard Employment Contract for Foreigners
※ You may also use your own employment contract with content equivalent to the standard contract.
5. Prepare documents
For an international student to obtain a work permit, the employment contract and a copy of the business registration certificate are required, so you must provide these documents to the worker. If the worker does not ask for these documents, it means they have no intention of getting a work permit, so be careful about hiring them.
[Start of Work Stage]
6. Confirm the work permit
Work may begin only after you have confirmed that the work permit has been properly approved. Starting work before the permit is approved is, in principle, illegal employment.
7. Enroll in the 4 major social insurances
Health insurance and industrial accident insurance are mandatory, while the National Pension and employment insurance do not apply.
See details on the 4 major social insurances for foreign workers
※ If working less than 15 hours per week, an exemption from health insurance is also possible.
8. Pay wages
We recommend paying wages by bank transfer to the worker's account; if paying in cash, it is best to get a separate receipt.