Originally Posted By CuriousKitten Hi there. I would really appreciate any information that can be cast my way. I want to know about the trade practices laws protecting the dancers and entertainers from America and England etc, that work at TDL/TDS. For example, sick leave, liability and workers compensation if injured at work. Furthermore - Are they employed as such by ODL or E promotions? and If E promotions is an American company (set up to hire foreigners - is it?) - then Is it US or Japanese Trade Law that covers them (or doesn't in the case of Japan). What if they are from another country? Please help me with any information if you can : )
Originally Posted By Mr X They are employed by E-Productions, not OLC, but as far as I know E-Productions is also a Japanese company. As far as those benefits, they do have sick leave and workers comp policies in place (if they offer you a contract, it's all spelled out), but I'm not sure if that falls under any particular laws or not. I do know that they have to fulfill certain requirements (accommodations, for one thing) in order to sponsor a performers' visa.
Originally Posted By CuriousKitten Thanks Mr X. Actually to sponsor a entertainment Visa you don't have to provide accommodation. But I think they have a special Visa for their employees, so maybe it is different. I ask because contracts don't always mention workers compensation etc, usually that fall under the blanket legislation as it exists... It normally is adequate, and companies don't want to offer more than they have to in that scenario. I guess I just have to work out which countries juristriction they fall under - being employed for a contract overseas. Probably it is Japan, but I guess it will be difficult to find out the compensation laws in Japan.
Originally Posted By Mr X **Actually to sponsor a entertainment Visa you don't have to provide accommodation.** Unless something has changed, they do. I've seen it in writing before. They also have to pay a particular minimum salary, which is the reason why face characters who get McDonalds level wages in America make much more in Japan. **But I think they have a special Visa for their employees, so maybe it is different.** Nope, just a regular, one year entertainers visa. Again, unless something has changed (it's been a few years).
Originally Posted By CuriousKitten Well I'm on an entertainers Visa in Japan, and my company doesn't have to provide accommodation. Maybe it's part of their contract? Anyway, I can live where I like, and my company provides rent allowances - or doesn't - depending on the contract and the individuals circumstances. Also, the standard entertainment visa is only 3 months and can be extended to 6, whish is why I believe Disney have some sort or variation or dispensation to the normal visa. Again, I really appreciate your feedback Mr X. Thank you : ) : )
Originally Posted By Mr X Hmm... Well that must have changed then, or as you say it's exclusive to Disney or something, because my visas were all for a year. There was also a weird situation where a performer extended his contract and had to go to Korea to renew (why they couldn't do it while he was in the country, I don't know). As for the accommodations, I do believe I read that somewhere but of course I could be wrong.
Originally Posted By CuriousKitten I know plenty of people that have come over here with my company - not Disney - and arranged their own accommodation. Then again, who knows what my company told immigration at the time ; ) So maybe we're both right. My main point I am concerned about is if someone get's sick or say - twists their ankle on stage, for example... do they come home? Get paid out? Stay and recover on minimum pay? What if they can't dance for several months? Surely there is indemnity insurance if someone hurts themselves performing their duties???
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< They are employed by E-Productions, not OLC, but as far as I know E-Productions is also a Japanese company. >>> If you're employed by a Japanese company and actually working in Japan, it would seem rather straightforward that Japanese employment law and not any other country's law would apply.
Originally Posted By Mr X Yeah, pretty much I think. The only X factor in that equation would be if they treated an employee poorly compared to normal WDC standards, because they rely heavily on the talent pool from the American parks and would thus have a difficult time finding people to take the jobs.
Originally Posted By CuriousKitten Well if standard WDC conditions mean 30 hours straight over New Years and up to 13 shows a day, for some of the local talent here - then it's completely normal. See that's where I'm coming from, locally recruited dancers and performers are completely overworked and underpaid. Should one of them be injured, it would pretty much be their bad luck, and they'd just have to get by - as fay as my understanding of the culture and industry here. I guess I'm looking for any instances anyone may know about - where someone has had to test it out... ie, couldn't work, so tried the system. Also, Mr X, it sounds like you had a contract here some time ago - maybe you can remember anything about this in the contract? Do you know what would have happened if you hurt yourself at work? I know if I was working in an office back home, for instance, and cut myself with scissors while doing a normal task, I'd be entitled to any medical costs and any time of work I needed - paid - until I could resume duties (a lame example i know)...
Originally Posted By Mr X **Well if standard WDC conditions mean 30 hours straight over New Years and up to 13 shows a day, for some of the local talent here - then it's completely normal.** Not just local talent, foreign talent gets some of the same treatment (been there, done that...in BOTH situations actually). But actually some of the performer positions at the American parks go through much the same...I've known people who've had to work 30 hours without a break between a full day of shows, overnight rehearsals, and another full day in Orlando as well. The foreign talent is certainly better compensated than the locals though, with overtime paid per hour and a pretty decent set of standards worked out (6th day time and a half, 7th day double time etc...). The locals are paid a set fee for rehearsal, doesn't matter how long they go (and boy do they go long!). There definitely is some workers comp stuff included in the contract for those injured on the job, but I'm sorry I really don't recall the details.
Originally Posted By Mr X **Should one of them be injured, it would pretty much be their bad luck, and they'd just have to get by - as fay as my understanding of the culture and industry here.** This is certainly true for the locals (a Japanese dancer friend of mine was run over by a float, broke some toes, and was back working on them the next day!), but less so for the foreign talent. Again, they have procedures but I just don't recall the specifics. You might want to contact talent booking in Orlando, they can give you some details I'm sure.
Originally Posted By Mr X I don't know how close you are, or what sort of job your asking about, but if you're near Tokyo you could try hanging out at the Shin-Urayasu Hub restaurant (in the Oriental Hotel) or Planet Hollywood at Ikspiari...both popular spots for current entertainment cast members. I'm sure they'd be happy to fill you in if you strike up a conversation.
Originally Posted By TokyoMack If you get hurt, you must see the doctor in order to be paid. This means you get paid only on days you see the doctor. If the doctor is closed for the weekend or because of one of Japan's many holidays, you do not get paid. I know from experience. Help?
Originally Posted By Mr X Hey Mack...how's it going? So THAT'S why all those dancers were going to the doc every single day! (I never could figure that out!) I suppose a way around that would be to insist they take you to the ER (dunno if that would work or not). You still get per-diem no matter what though, right? That's how it used to be anyway.
Originally Posted By CuriousKitten Very interesting... thank you for your reply. It is also important to note that a contract cannot override the employment laws for the country - I strongly suspect they are trying to imply otherwise, and then just hope that they aren't tested by someone who thinks it's not right...
Originally Posted By Mr X Not sure about that, Kitten. Seems to me that the gaijin contracts, at least, are quite a bit better than the local laws (100% medical coverage, overtime pay etc...). I could be wrong, as I haven't seen the Japanese laws in print. I have, however, seen how Japanese employees are treated at Disney and elsewhere (not pretty!). Even if there ARE laws in place, often they are ignored by employer and employee (the employee fearing for his/her job, with little recourse it seems).
Originally Posted By CuriousKitten Spot on. But Laws have changed in recent years to really empower the emlpoyee - similar to western countries. Fact is, The local Japanese are both unaware, and unwanting (cultural and future employment issuess) to challenge or stand up for themselves in the workplace. It's very lucky for employers of Japan - and not just Eprod.
Originally Posted By Mr X Agreed 100%. And believe me, that's frustrating when you're a foreigner on a locals contract as I've been in the past!
