Japan Press Weekly

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2013 July 10 - 16 [LABOR]

Waseda Univ. pushes part-time lecturers take 6 months off to avoid open-ended job contracts

Waseda University is encouraging its part-time instructors, who continue working for more than five years, to take six months off as a means of avoiding hiring them with open-ended contracts.

The Union of University Part-Time Lecturers in Tokyo Area on July 10 gave a press conference and accused Waseda University authorities of committing an act of circumvention of the law.

The revised Labor Contract Act coming into effect in April makes it possible for fixed-term contract employees working continuously for more than five years in one location to apply for open-ended contracts.

The university recently distributed a questionnaire to part-time teaching staff asking what lesson plans they have in mind. The questionnaire form subtly suggests that part-time teachers take a leave of absence for a period of one semester after completing five years of work.

This act runs counter both to the revised law providing job stability and to the labor ministry’s guidelines stipulating that employers cannot have employees renounce their right in advance to apply for open-ended contracts.

The union is calling on part-time lecturers to check the response included on the form, “I strongly hope to conduct classes without any interval.”

Related past articles:
> Part-time lecturers file complaint against Waseda Univ. for violation of labor law [June 22, 2013]
> Part-time lecturers condemn university for unilaterally changing work rules in violation of labor laws [April 14, 2013]
> Part-time teachers at universities fight back against 5-year contract limit [March 29, 2013]
> Employers move to terminate employment contracts before labor law revised [February 22, 2013]