Japan is one of the most advanced nations in the world. It has a robust economy and leads the world in terms of technology. As such, a lot of people are interested in working there, including Filipinos.
If you’re wondering about the salary and cost of living of an OFW in Japan, this article is for you. It summarizes the information provided by an OFW that has a YouTube channel. Through the video he shared, he is able to inform not just those who are interested to work in Japan, but also those who are simply curious.
Disclaimer: The information posted here is based on the personal experiences shared by the OFWs in the video below. Please let this post serve as a guide only. If you have specific questions, you may ask the OFWs by commenting on their videos on their accounts.
Salary Details of an Overseas Filipino in Japan
In the video below, OFW YouTuber from Japan Laurence Calledo talks about his salary in Japan. He mentioned that he didn’t really want to talk about his salary, but since many of his viewers asked for it, he decided to share it for information purposes.
According to Laurence, provincial rates and city rates are different in Japan, similar to the Philippines, when it comes to salary.
Tokyo has the highest salaries, yet the cost of living there is also very high.
Laurence works in Hiroshima city, where the salary is slightly lower, but the expenses are also lower.
Salary
Laurence’s salary is 844 yen per hour. That’s equivalent to 400 pesos per hour, and they work eight hours a day.
The monthly salary pay in Japan varies per company; some pay every 5th day of the Month, every 10th of the month. For Laurence, payout is every 20th day of the month.
Moreover, Laurence added that his salary is fixed. That means, even if they are on a day off, or if there is a holiday, they still get paid.
Laurence’s monthly salary is 146,600 yen or 68,902 pesos.
Aside from the salary, he also receives overtime pay and benefits, among others.
Overtime Pay
Overtime rates are different for the regular pay rates.
They are usually much higher, which means Laurence and his workmates are really happy when they are asked to work overtime, or when they are asked to work during their day off.
In the company that Laurence works in, the seniors are given more priority when it comes to overtime.
Salary Deductions
Here are the monthly deductions from Laurence’s salary:
Income tax – 1,180 yen or 550 pesos. Laurence said you won’t regret paying taxes in Japan because of the great services they provide to the public.
Employment insurance – 439 yen or 206 pesos. Laurence used this insurance last year when he got sick.
Social Security Insurance – 18,907 yen or 8,886 pesos.
Expenses
House Rent – 15,000 yen or 7,050 pesos per month. This is relatively cheap because according to Laurence, their accommodation is owned by the company.
Utilities – 4,000 yen or 1,880 pesos. This includes water, electricity, heater.
Laurence mentioned that when they first arrived in Japan, the company has already provided them the following:
Internet connection
Home appliances like refrigerator, oven, stove, etc.
How Much is Left?
Laurence’s net monthly wage, excluding overtime is 102,674 yen or 50,325 pesos.
When overtime pay is included, his salary ranges from 120,000 yen to 150,000 yen, or 56,400 pesos to 70,500 pesos.
What’s left of the money goes to:
- Food allowance
- Monthly savings
- Money for family back in the Philippines
There you have it. The video shows that you can really save money while working in Japan. However, it really depends on whether you are willing to save and not spend too much of what’s left of your income.