Let’s take a look at Haken system.

Q1: What is “haken (temp staffing)” in general?
Under the system of temporary staffing, you (temp staff) are to have a contract with the temp-staff agency so that your wage should be paid by the agency. You would be, however, directed and assigned tasks by a (client) company who requires a temp staff and who you work for. Based on a contract of supply of temporary staff, the agency provides the client company with staff. (Fig.A)

Every agency providing temp staffing services has to be authorized from labor department in each prefecture. Such agencies should hold license numbers respectively. (般 xx-xx-xxxx).

On the contrary, the employment system for full-time and part-time staff works differently. They are employed directly by employers so that who hires staff and who the staff works for should be the same company.

Outsourcing is another system. In this system, staff completely belongs to the outsourcing agency so that the staff should work under their direction and supervision wherever they work.　(Fig.B)

 

Q2 : The merit and demerit of temp staff system
Let’s think about merits and demerits of Haken system.

Merit

• You can work in a way that fits to your lifestyle:
  Eg. Working 3 or 4 days a week and/or 4 hours a day, and the office is only 30 minutes away from your home, etc. You also wouldn’t be forced to work extra hours or at weekends.
• You can choose a job in the field where you want to specify.
  Eg. PC operator, Telephone operator, secretary, etc. If you wish to utilize your language skills, you have lots of job options. Some temp-staff agencies provide you with training scheme so that you might have an opportunity to brush up your skills.
• You can have lots of experiences working in different offices:
  Working opportunity might be wide open for temp staff even in a big and famous foreign company where it can be difficult for you to be employed as a full-time worker. Your skills can be improved thorough the various tasks you are supposed to work on, and it is possible that you get various experiences which might help you to step further. The best advantage of this system can be that you wouldn’t be bored by mannerism.
• Relatively high wage:
  Hourly wage is relatively high so that it can balance out a disadvantage that you cannot get bonus.

Demerit

• Unstable working status:
  It is possible that you cannot immediately find a new job one after another. The system can be unstable employment.
• No bonus, wage is reduced according to holidays:
  Whereas full time employees get bonus, temp staff get none even though they work together and do the same job. The wage is reduced when the company is off such as on public holidays. Although the hourly rate is relatively higher, the annual income might possibly be lower than full-time employees. Having said that, you can work flexibly in a way that you wish, and therefore it depends on you which benefit you take.
• No promotion:
  As temp staff is only supposed to achieve duty based on the contract and you are assumed to work properly and efficiently, you will not get promotion.
• No responsibility:
  It is not always but possible that you cannot do a job which requires you to take a responsibility because many companies get temp staff to cover extra tasks rather than core tasks. It can frustrate you if you are highly ambitious in improving your career.

Q3：From when does the temp staff contract go effective?
You are supposed to make a contract with a temp-staff agency after the client company who you work for was fixed.

Q4：Does the social insurance apply for contract worker?
Temp Staff Agency is obligated to inform about health, pension and unemployment insurance to a Client Company. The is based on Labor ministerial ordinance.

Q5：What is temp-to-perm?
Where the temporary position is prospective to be a permanent position in the future, the position is called “temp-to-perm”. The term you work as temp staff is generally 6 months or less and such positions should be declared as “temp-to-perm” position in advance. During the term, the client company tries to find out if you have preferable skills as permanent employee. You can also examine if the company is desirable for yourself to work as a full timer. Amendment of Worker Dispatch Law in 2004 allows the temp-staff agencies to introduce direct hiring position before the temp term completed.