Recommended Part-Time Jobs for Foreign Housewives

Housewives with foreign nationality and living in Japan legally, are allowed to work part-time or full-time by Japanese imigration law, no matter if they are married to Japanese or not. Considering the aging and shrinking population problem, Japanese government is doing a lot to encourage housewives to go out to work in their free time. Companies also arrange flexible working hours to permit them a dual home-workplace role.

Housewives may find a part-time job not only for its wage, but also the social connection it brings. They can promote Japanese language skills during work, deepen understanding of Japanese social rules and company cultures, and what's more, make friends. And trust me, a Japanese housewife friend can provide a lot of advice about raising a child in Japan.

It is not that hard for foreign housewives to find and do a part-time job in Japan than imagination. In this article, we will recommend some good part-time jobs.

Check points for housewives to choose a part-time job

Housewives need to check some points before applying for a part-time job.

-Is it able to take work and home balance?

It also takes time to do housework and take care of children. The working hours should be flexible enough for them to take balance between housework and work. Also the part-time job is expected to allow them take a sudden leave off when their child gets an unexpected fever.

-If no-experience okay?

Compared to jobs requiring expertises, those jobs that are easy to start without any experience will be less stressful for housewives who will work concurrently at home and company. So confirm that the job has enough training systems for someone to get started.

Surely those people who enjoy working with their own specialized skills can also take a challenge to do a skillful part-time job.

-Is it easy to commute?

A commute time of an hour may need a rethink for housewives, as they may only have 3 hours to work before their children come back home. A workplace near home may be better that housewives can go back home to have lunch or do a little housework during the lunch break.

But a nearby workplace may also be troublesome after quitting.

-How much money does it take?

List up the potential expenses of the job and compare with wages. For example, extra out-eating costs out of less time to cook, extra clothing costs, or expenses of social events. Most people won't choose a job whose expenses exceed wages.

To find part-time jobs nearby, human-needed posters pasted in the store, flyers of supermarkets, magazines at stations will all be referenceable. Or job search websites will also be powerful to find jobs in other areas or online jobs.

Average wage for part-time jobs

Average hourly wage differs depending on prefectures. Urbanized cities like Tokyo may pay 1200 yen per hour, a little less urbanized prefectures like Saitama may pay 1000 yen per hour, or 800 yen in the case of the countryside.

Seven recommended part-time jobs for foreign housewives

Based on the above checkpoints, we picked up some good part-time jobs.

1. Translator

A job to make use of language skills. If a foreigner can read and write Japanese, then one can try translating between one's own language and Japanese, or other languages one masters. Housewives can work as a translator at home or anywhere with internet access, and at any idle time. It may be the most flexible part-time job for foreign housewives.

2. General office work

A job to make use of computer skills. To work at the offices to create and organize documents, do data entry on computers, etc. Some companies may also have this position for people working at home with tasks provided by e-mails. People who can work with word, excel will be competent. As general office work can be covered by co-workers easily when taking accident leaves, it is very friendly for housewives.

3. Clerk of convenience stores, supermarkets

Convenience stores and supermarkets have a huge demand for part-time housewives. They provide a range of job positions from cashier, to stocking, replacement of products, inventory, kitchen staff, etc. They also provide flexible shifts, training for new staff, and product discounts for employers. Besides, there are definitely convenience stores or supermarkets nearby.

4. Receptionist

A job to guide, handle and dispatch customers visiting front desks of offices and sports facilities and so on. As a receptionist is supposed to serve customers on the spot or on the phone, polite business Japanese will be required, while also some companies may expect them to serve customers in foreign languages like English or Chinese. This work doesn't require working experience, and provides training and uniforms for workers. Housewives will be glad to improve their work skills by this work.

5. Light work staff

To do packing, sorting, and inspection at factories. Those works are easy to get started for everyone and able to enjoy working alone. Light work staff have no need to talk much with co-workers or customers, which may sound great for foreigners who are not good at Japanese. As factories have relatively long working hours, housewives can always find time to work.

6. Cleaner

To do cleaning at hotels, facilities, buildings, etc. Housewives can get started with a little training as they may have already been cleaning experts at home. And the shifts are usually flexible for housewives to work, for example hotel cleaning workers only need to work in the morning. Besides, cleaners are widely demanded so that it is easy to find one near home.

7. Telephone appointer

A job to receive calls from customers and make calls to customers in call centers. Telephone appointers can wear freely as they have no need to serve customers face-to-face, but polite Japanese will be required on the phone. Also some tourist companies may hire telephone appointers to serve foreign customers, so one's own language may be okay. The shift can be from Monday to Sunday, morning to evening.

Visas for housewives and work restrictions

The most common two visas for foreign housewives should be Dependent, Spouse of Japanese national. The former is for the spouse of a foreign national with a working visa, while the latter is for the spouse of a Japanese. If the housewife and her husband are eligible for a visa, they can apply by submitting required documents to immigration bureaus.

If the housewife is not in Japan yet, the visa application documents should be submitted, while in the case that she is already owning another visa, the change-to-another-visa documents will be needed.

A housewife with the Spouse of Japanese national visa is not restricted on her workplace and working hours, while the Dependent visa holder is only allowed to work not over 28 hours per week and not in entertainment businesses such as clubs, pachinko, etc., after getting work permission from immigration bureaus.