How to Ask About Wages and Working Hours in Your Language

Separate the facts from what is still unclear

Before calling, make a short personal note describing the problem, such as “My pay does not match the hours I worked” or “I do not understand how my overtime was calculated.” Add the dates you worked, the pay date, the hours you can confirm and what your employer told you. If a date, amount or working time is uncertain, write “unknown” instead of guessing. This makes it easier to explain which parts are documented and which parts still need clarification.

Choose the multilingual consultation service

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provides information on consultation services for foreign workers, including language-specific contacts and regional consultation corners. English, Chinese and Vietnamese are among the listed languages. The consultation line for foreign workers and the Labour Standards Advice Hotline are separate services: calls to the foreign-worker consultation line are charged, while calls to the hotline are free from within Japan. The hotline is also available at night after government offices close and on weekends and public holidays, although the available days differ by language. Check the current language schedule immediately before calling. The hotline can provide advice on matters such as working hours or unpaid overtime and can refer you to relevant organizations, but it cannot directly instruct or supervise your employer.

Keep useful documents nearby and ask for the next step

If you have an employment contract, payslips, time records or your own notes of hours worked, keep them nearby so you can check details during the consultation. These are not presented here as a nationwide mandatory document list. You can ask: “I would like to discuss working conditions in my preferred language. Which service is appropriate? What information should I prepare, and which organization should I contact next?” After the call, record the advice you received, the next contact and any questions that remain unanswered.

Checklist before you contact the service

• Write down the problem, relevant work dates, pay dates, known hours and anything that remains unclear.
• Check the current language schedule and confirm which consultation service matches your issue before calling.
• Keep any contract, payslips and working-time records you already have available for reference.
• Record the next organization, information to prepare and unanswered questions after the consultation.