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Maraming Filipinos working in Japan ang nakakaranas na hilingang manatili sa trabaho pagkatapos ng regular shift. Sa Japanese, ang overtime work ay tinatawag na :

残業（ざんぎょう / Zangyō）

Normal man ang overtime sa ilang workplaces, hindi ibig sabihin na puwedeng ipagawa ng employer ang anumang bilang ng oras nang walang limit, proper procedure, o tamang bayad.

Mahalagang malaman mo kung kailan legal ang overtime, paano ito dapat bayaran, at ano ang maaari mong gawin kapag sobra, unpaid, o nakakaapekto na sa iyong kalusugan.

1. Alamin ang Iyong Regular Working Hours

Bago mo malaman kung overtime ang isang trabaho, tingnan muna ang iyong :

• Employment contract

• Written working conditions

• Company rules

• Work schedule

• Timecard or attendance record

Sa Japan, ang general statutory working-hour limit ay :

• 8 hours per day

• 40 hours per week

May ilang exceptions at alternative working-hour systems, kaya mahalagang tingnan ang actual arrangement ng iyong company. Employers must also generally provide at least 45 minutes of break when work exceeds six hours and at least one hour when work exceeds eight hours.

2. Understand the Difference Between Scheduled and Legal Overtime

May dalawang importanteng concept :

Company overtime 

Ito ang oras na lampas sa regular schedule na nakasulat sa iyong contract.

Halimbawa :

• Contract schedule: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

• Actual work: hanggang 6:00 PM

Ang additional hour ay maaaring company overtime.

Statutory overtime

Ito ang work na lumampas sa legal limit na eight hours per day or 40 hours per week.

Ang overtime premium ay karaniwang nakabase sa statutory overtime, hindi lamang sa oras na lampas sa company schedule.

Halimbawa, kung seven hours lang ang regular schedule mo at nagtrabaho ka ng eight hours, maaaring regular hourly wage muna ang applicable sa additional hour, depende sa iyong contract at wage rules.

3. Ano ang 36 Agreement?

Para legal na makapagpagawa ng work beyond statutory hours or on statutory rest days, kailangang may labor-management agreement ang employer na tinatawag na :

36協定（Saburoku Kyōtei）

Article 36 Agreement

Ito ay agreement sa pagitan ng employer at :

• Labor union representing the majority of workers; or

• Properly selected representative of the majority of workers

Kailangan din itong i-file sa relevant Labour Standards Inspection Office. Ang pagkakaroon ng 36 Agreement ay hindi nagbibigay sa employer ng unlimited authority na magpagawa ng overtime—may legal limits pa rin ito.

4. May Limit Ba ang Overtime?

Yes. Para sa most workers, ang general overtime limit ay :

• 45 hours per month

• 360 hours per year

Kapag may temporary at extraordinary circumstances at may valid special provision, maaari lamang lumampas sa ordinary limit subject to stricter conditions, including :

• Up to 720 overtime hours per year

• Less than 100 combined overtime and holiday-work hours in any single month

• No more than an 80-hour monthly average over periods of two to six months, including holiday work

• The 45-hour monthly limit may generally be exceeded only up to six months in a year

Special limits and exceptions may apply to certain industries and working arrangements.

5. Kailangan Bang Bayaran ang Overtime?

Yes. Kapag nagtrabaho ka beyond statutory working hours, dapat bayaran ang applicable premium wage.

Common minimum premium rates include :

• Statutory overtime: at least 25% additional pay

• Work on a statutory holiday: at least 35% additional pay

• Late-night work from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM: at least 25% additional pay

• Statutory overtime exceeding 60 hours in one month: at least 50% additional pay

Kapag sabay na applicable ang overtime at late-night work, maaaring pagsamahin ang applicable premiums. The exact calculation depends on when the work occurred and whether the day was a statutory holiday.

6. Check Your Employment Contract

Hanapin sa iyong contract ang sections tungkol sa :

所定労働時間（Shotei rōdō jikan）

Scheduled working hours

時間外労働（Jikangai rōdō）

Overtime work

休日労働（Kyūjitsu rōdō）

Holiday work

割増賃金（Warimashi chingin）

Premium wages

固定残業代（Kotei zangyōdai）

Fixed overtime allowance

Employers should provide workers with written information about important conditions such as working hours, whether overtime is expected, breaks, days off, and wages.

7. What Is Fixed Overtime Pay?

Some companies include a fixed amount of overtime pay in the monthly salary. This may appear as :

• Fixed overtime allowance

• Deemed overtime

• Included overtime

• Fixed overtime pay covering a specified number of hours

Hindi ito automatic na nangangahulugang libre na ang lahat ng overtime mo.

Check :

• How many overtime hours are included?

• How much is the fixed allowance?

• Is the breakdown clearly written?

• What happens if your actual overtime exceeds the included hours?

Kung lumampas ang actual overtime sa hours covered by the fixed allowance, additional payment may still be required. Do not assume that a high basic salary automatically includes unlimited overtime. 

8. Can You Refuse Overtime?

Depende ito sa circumstances.

Kung may valid 36 Agreement, may legal basis sa employment contract or company rules, at reasonable ang overtime instruction, maaaring inaasahan kang sumunod.

However, hindi ibig sabihin nito na kailangan mong tanggapin ang overtime na :

• Lumalampas sa legal or agreed limits

• Unpaid

• Hindi properly recorded

• Clearly unsafe

• Labis na nakakaapekto sa iyong health

• In conflict with legally protected circumstances

• Ginagamit bilang punishment or harassment

Huwag basta mag-walk out o tumanggi nang walang explanation kung hindi emergency. Mas mabuting itanong muna ang reason, expected end time, at kung paano ito ire-record at babayaran.

9. Ano ang Puwede Mong Sabihin Kapag Inutusan Kang Mag-overtime?

Kung kaya mong mag-overtime :

はい、わかりました。何時までですか？

Hai, wakarimashita. Nanji made desu ka?

Okay, I understand. Until what time?

Kung kailangan mong malaman kung bayad :

残業時間として記録されますか？

Zangyō jikan to shite kiroku saremasu ka?

Will this be recorded as overtime?

Kung hindi ka available :

申し訳ありませんが、今日は予定があるため、残業が難しいです。

Mōshiwake arimasen ga, kyō wa yotei ga aru tame, zangyō ga muzukashii desu.

I’m sorry, but I have a prior commitment today, so it will be difficult for me to work overtime.

Kung may health concern :

体調がよくないため、今日は残業できません。

Taichō ga yokunai tame, kyō wa zangyō dekimasen.

I’m not feeling well, so I cannot work overtime today.

Kung sobra na ang workload :

今月の残業時間を確認していただけますか？

Kongetsu no zangyō jikan o kakunin shite itadakemasu ka?

Could you please check my overtime hours for this month?

10. Keep Your Own Record of Working Hours

Huwag umasa lamang sa company system.

Itala ang iyong :

• Start time

• End time

• Break time

• Overtime hours

• Work performed after clocking out

• Weekend or holiday work

• Messages instructing you to work

• Schedule changes

• Payslips

Useful evidence may include :

• Timecard photos

• Shift schedules

• Emails

• Chat messages

• Computer login records

• Entry and exit records

• Personal calendar

• Transportation records

Employers have a responsibility to manage working hours properly, but keeping your own records can help if there is a difference between the hours you worked and the hours shown on your payslip.

11. Do Not Work “Off the Clock”

Be careful if you are told to :

• Clock out first, then continue working

• Come early without recording the time

• Finish reports at home for free

• Attend mandatory meetings without pay

• Change clothes or prepare equipment outside recorded time

• Record fewer hours than you actually worked

Work that is required or controlled by the employer may count as working time even if the employer calls it “voluntary.”

Politely ask that all required work be properly recorded.

12. Review Your Payslip

Check whether your overtime appears on your payslip.

Useful Japanese terms :

時間外手当（Jikangai teate） – Overtime allowance

残業手当（Zangyō teate） – Overtime pay

深夜手当（Shinya teate） – Late-night allowance

休日手当（Kyūjitsu teate） – Holiday-work allowance

時間外労働時間 – Statutory overtime hours

控除（Kōjo） – Deductions

Compare the hours on your payslip with your own records.

Kung may discrepancy, ask payroll or HR for a written breakdown.

13. What If Overtime Is Unpaid?

Start by raising the issue calmly and in writing.

You may say :

I reviewed my attendance record and payslip, and the overtime hours appear to be different. Could you please check the calculation and provide a breakdown?

Attach or keep copies of :

• Payslip

• Time records

• Contract

• Work schedule

• Messages from your supervisor

Do not surrender your original documents. Keep copies of all correspondence.

Unpaid statutory overtime may violate Japan’s labor standards laws. The obligation to pay premium wages applies even where statutory overtime was performed without a valid 36 Agreement.

14. What If Your Manager Pressures You?

Possible warning signs include :

• Threatening dismissal for asking about overtime pay

• Telling workers not to record overtime

• Changing attendance records

• Constantly demanding extremely long hours

• Insulting workers who go home on time

• Calling mandatory work “volunteer work”

• Pressuring employees to sign false records

• Retaliating after a complaint

Keep a factual record containing :

• Date

• Time

• Location

• People present

• Exact words used

• Work requested

• Supporting messages or documents

Avoid secretly taking actions that could violate workplace rules or privacy laws. Written notes and preserved messages are often a safer starting point.  

15. Speak to the Right Person

Depending on your workplace, you may raise the concern with :

• Direct supervisor

• HR department

• Payroll department

• Compliance office

• Labor union

• Employee representative

• Occupational physician

• Internal consultation desk

Explain the issue calmly and focus on the facts :

• Actual hours worked

• Hours recorded

• Amount paid

• Health impact

• Requested resolution

16. Protect Your Health

Long working hours can affect :

• Sleep

• Concentration

• Blood pressure

• Mental health

• Driving safety

• Workplace safety

• Family life

If overtime and holiday work exceed 80 hours in a month, certain workers may request a medical interview under occupational health rules. Employers may also have obligations to provide working-hour information to an occupational physician.

Kung nakakaranas ka ng severe exhaustion, chest pain, fainting, panic, or other urgent symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

17. Where Can You Ask for Help?

Kung hindi naaayos internally ang issue, maaari kang kumonsulta sa :

• Labour Standards Inspection Office

• Prefectural Labour Bureau

• Labour union

• Legal consultation service

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare consultation services

The Ministry’s Labour Standards Advice Hotline handles concerns such as illegal overtime, unpaid overtime, and health problems caused by overwork. Foreign-language telephone consultation is also available, including Tagalog support through designated services and schedules.

Dalhin o ihanda ang :

• Employment contract

• Payslips

• Attendance records

• Company rules

• Messages

• Personal overtime log

• Identification

• Company name and address

Useful Japanese Words

残業（Zangyō） – Overtime

時間外労働（Jikangai rōdō） – Work outside statutory hours

休日労働（Kyūjitsu rōdō） – Work on a rest day

深夜労働（Shinya rōdō） – Late-night work

残業代（Zangyōdai） – Overtime pay

割増賃金（Warimashi chingin） – Premium wage

労働時間（Rōdō jikan） – Working hours

勤務表（Kinmuhyō） – Work schedule

給与明細（Kyūyo meisai） – Payslip

36協定（Saburoku kyōtei） – Overtime and holiday-work agreement

労働基準監督署（Rōdō kijun kantokusho） – Labour Standards Inspection Office

Overtime Checklist

Kapag hinilingang mag-overtime, check :

✔️ Is the instruction clear?

✔️ Until what time are you expected to work?

✔️ Will the overtime be recorded?

✔️ Is the work within your job responsibilities?

✔️ Does your contract mention overtime?

✔️ Is there a valid company overtime arrangement?

✔️ Are you receiving the correct overtime premium?

✔️ Are your breaks and rest days being respected?

✔️ Is the workload affecting your health or safety?

✔️ Do your personal records match your payslip?

Being asked to work overtime in Japan does not automatically mean that something illegal is happening. However, overtime must be properly authorized, limited, recorded, and paid.

Know your schedule, check your employment contract, record your actual hours, and review your payslip carefully. Kapag may problem, raise it calmly and in writing. Kung hindi ito maayos sa company level, seek advice from an official labor consultation service.

Most importantly, huwag balewalain ang iyong health. Walang trabaho o deadline na dapat kapalit ang iyong safety at well-being.

Sa PhilMoney, nais naming suportahan ang mga Pilipino sa Japan hindi lamang sa mabilis at ligtas na remittance, kundi pati na rin sa pagbibigay ng practical information para mas maging informed, protected, at confident sa kanilang buhay at trabaho sa Japan.

Note : This article is intended for general information only. Regulations and procedures in Japan and the Philippines may change. Please verify the latest information with the appropriate government agency or official institution before taking action.