Social Insurance Considerations for Hosting International Interns in Japan
- When hosting international students for internships in Japan, how should companies handle social insurance?
- HR managers frequently ask about social insurance obligations when hosting international students as interns. Below is an explanation of the main considerations, particularly for paid internships.
【Social Insurance Eligibility】
For paid internships, eligibility for social insurance depends primarily on working hours. For example, if an intern works at least three-quarters of a full-time employee’s hours (i.e., 6 hours or more per day based on an 8-hour standard), they become subject to social insurance enrollment.
Once enrolled, contributions for health insurance and employee pension will be deducted from the intern’s stipend. For instance, if an intern earns JPY 200,000 per month, a portion will be withheld as social insurance premiums, with the host company paying an equivalent amount. In this way, even interns may be treated similarly to regular employees for social insurance purposes.
【Employment Insurance】
In principle, students are excluded from employment insurance coverage because they are not considered unemployed in the conventional sense. However, if an intern works more than 20 hours per week, they may become eligible for employment insurance, and premiums will be deducted accordingly.
【Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance (Workers’ Compensation)】
Coverage under workers’ compensation depends on whether the internship is deemed “employment.” If the program is primarily observational or training-oriented, it may not qualify. However, if the intern performs actual work tasks, workers’ accident insurance may apply.
Since there is always a risk of accidents—commuting incidents, workplace injuries, or falls in the office—companies should consider private insurance to supplement public coverage where workers’ compensation does not apply.
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Internship & Summer Job Programs for International Students in Japan
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