Gifu-Ippan (National Union of General Worker in Gifu Prefecture) provides labor consultation and support for foreign workers in Japan.

We welcome consultations from people with any status of residence, including:

  • Technical Intern Trainees
  • Specified Skilled Workers (SSW)
  • International Students
  • Engineers / Specialists in Humanities / International Services
  • Permanent Residents
  • Long-Term Residents
  • People of Japanese Descent (Nikkei)
  • Other foreign nationals working in Japan

Are you experiencing any of the following problems at work?

  • Your wages have not been paid.
  • Your overtime pay has not been paid.
  • You were dismissed suddenly.
  • You are being required to perform work that differs from your employment contract.
  • Your employer has asked you to hand over your passport or Residence Card.
  • You are experiencing verbal abuse, harassment, or violence.
  • You have suffered a workplace injury or occupational accident.
  • You want to leave your company but do not know what to do.
  • You are worried about changing jobs or your immigration status.

If you are facing any of these problems, please do not struggle alone. Contact us for advice and support.

We Have Experience Supporting Foreign Workers

Gifu-Ippan has worked closely with the NPO Labor Consultation Center, an organization that has supported foreign workers for many years, and has assisted numerous foreign workers with their concerns.

We have experience supporting Technical Intern Trainees, Specified Skilled Workers, International Students, and many other foreign workers in Japan.

Our support includes:

  • Resolving workplace and labor-related problems
  • Negotiating with employers
  • Filing complaints with the Labor Standards Inspection Office
  • Providing consultation regarding status of residence and immigration-related issues
  • Coordinating with lawyers
  • Communicating with government and administrative agencies

When necessary, we also work with volunteer interpreters and support organizations to help resolve problems.

Problems faced by foreign workers often involve not only labor issues but also immigration status, living conditions, and language barriers. Gifu-Ippan provides support tailored to each person's situation.

Emergency Support

If violence, threats, serious harassment, loss of housing, or other circumstances make it difficult for you to live safely, emergency support may be available through cooperation with relevant organizations, depending on the situation.

In the past, we have helped foreign workers by arranging temporary safe accommodation and other emergency assistance.

Please contact us if you are in situations such as:

  • You have been forced to leave your company dormitory or housing.
  • You are experiencing violence or threats.
  • You want to leave your employer but have nowhere safe to go.
  • You need a safe place to stay.

Please note that available support depends on individual circumstances. We cannot guarantee assistance in every case.

Please Seek Advice as Early as Possible

When problems occur at work, some people may think:

"I don't want to go back to work."

"My only option is to disappear and leave my job."

"I will move to another company through a friend's introduction."

However, if you leave your workplace without notice (abscond from employment) or begin working for another employer without the necessary authorization, the support systems and legal remedies available to you may become limited, even when the employer was originally at fault.

Such actions may also negatively affect your status of residence and your future life in Japan.

Labor disputes are often easier to resolve when advice is sought at an early stage.

Gifu-Ippan not only negotiates with employers, but also works with lawyers, government agencies, and support organizations when necessary.

It is perfectly acceptable to contact us even if:

"I don't know what I should do."

"I'm not sure whether what my employer is saying is correct."

Please consult us before the situation becomes more serious.

Please Feel Free to Contact Us

We strictly protect the confidentiality of all consultations and personal information.

Gifu-Ippan will not report you or provide information about you to government agencies, the police, or immigration authorities.

We will not disclose your information unless we are legally required to do so through formal legal procedures, such as a valid court order or warrant.

Our goal is to help foreign workers live and work safely and with peace of mind in Japan.