EOR in Japan

The legal guardrails for shukko (出向)”secondment” in Japan, in the government’s own words “Secondment” gets used loosely in cross-border HR conversations. Japanese law is not loose about it. Zaiseki-gata shukko (在籍型出向), or in-service secondment, is a specific legal structure with specific conditions attached, and those conditions come directly from the Employment Security Act, the Labor […]

Choosing an Employer of Record (EOR) is about much more than payroll, contracts, or monthly service fees. The real test of an EOR comes when something unexpected happens. Your employee has been injured. They’ve been arrested. They’re being harassed. They’ve received an urgent letter from a government office they can’t read. They don’t speak Japanese.

Many overseas companies looking to hire in Japan are presented with an “EOR solution” that is actually structured as outsourcing, secondment, or a combination of both. Before signing anything, ask your Japanese legal advisor or provider three simple questions. Each one maps to an actual test in Japanese law — not just good practice. 1.

Introduction When discussing Employer of Record (EOR), secondment (出向), and worker dispatch (派遣), many articles begin with conclusions. Instead, let’s begin with the Japanese government’s own words. This article does not advocate for any particular employment structure. It simply examines a 2008 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) paper and highlights several questions readers

Know the Facts, Question Counsel, Respect the Risks When companies enter Japan, they are often presented with various workforce solutions described as outsourcing, secondment (出向), managed services, subcontracting, or other contractual arrangements. Sometimes these structures are entirely appropriate. Sometimes they are not. The purpose of this article is not to provide legal advice, nor to

Setting Up a Company in Japan as a Foreigner: Why the “Business Manager” Visa Is Far More Difficult Than It Looks For foreign professionals and companies entering Japan, the 「経営・管理」 (Business Manager) visa is often seen as the default route. In reality, it is one of the most complex, capital-intensive, and compliance-heavy pathways in the

Introduction Employer of Record (EOR) and Global Employment Outsourcing (GEO) services have become increasingly popular for international companies expanding into Japan. Many organizations contact Smart Partners KK looking for a local partner who can legally employ and support staff in Japan while they establish a presence in the market. For companies entering Japan, the alternative

Employer of Record (EOR) Services in Japan – Hire Employees Without a Local Entity What is an Employer of Record (EOR) in Japan? An Employer of Record (EOR) in Japan is a licensed company that legally employs workers on behalf of another organization while the client company directs the employee’s day-to-day work. The EOR handles

What to Ask Before You Choose a Partner We regularly receive inquiries related to Employer of Record (EOR) services in Japan, and they typically come from three groups: What quickly becomes clear is that many people are unsure what questions actually matter when selecting an EOR in Japan. This article does not explain what an EOR is or