Many Filipinos aim to work abroad for the various opportunities they can take advantage of. And among the many countries Filipinos can choose from, Japan is among the popular ones because it is quite near the Philippines and the culture in Japan, in some ways, are the same as ours in the Philippines.
In this post, we will give you an overview of how much an OFW in Japan earns every month. We will also share tips, insights, and ideas as to the common jobs Filipinos have in Japan.
Disclaimer: The information published is based on the experience shared by the vlogger/YouTuber. The information provided may change without prior notice and may differ in actual scenarios. Let this article serve as a guide only.
Here is the video guide shared by a Filipina factory worker in Japan, Ronna, a.k.a. Ronna the Explorer on YouTube. If you find her tips helpful, you may check out her YouTube channel to catch more interesting content about her work and life as an OFW in Japan.
How Much Does an OFW Earn in Japan?
Like in many parts of the world, Japan is a country that has plenty of job opportunities for Filipinos. One reason for this is the fact that Japan has an aging population so there is a higher demand for younger foreign workers from other countries such as the Philippines and from other parts of Asia.
What are the common OFW Jobs in Japan?
As we’ve mentioned earlier, Japan is in need of skilled workers and professionals across various fields because they have a predominantly old population in their country and so they are in need of younger workers who will help sustain their economy.
If you’re interested in applying for work in Japan, here are some of the jobs that might fit your skills, experiences, and qualifications:
- jobs in agriculture
- production/machine operators
- construction workers,
- welders
- carpenters
- automotive/electronics technician
- cleaning (laundry) services
- food processing, and
- factory workers
Based on the list, we can tell that most of the jobs offered in Japan are skill-based. However, there are also many other opportunities for Filipinos who wish to work in the field of education, engineering, research, and the sciences.
To give you an idea of how much an OFW earns in Japan, let’s look at how much a factory worker in Japan earns on a monthly basis.
Japan is known for producing some of the world’s best electronic gadgets, machines, and automobiles. For this reason, most of the jobs offered in the country require manual and skilled labor, often dealing with the production, assembly, and testing of products created in factories in Japan.
According to Ronna, she and her husband who both work in factories in Japan work long hours and often on overtime. This usually requires them to stand or to sit in one place for a long period of time doing one thing over and over again. But is it worth it? Let’s find out:
Factory workers in Japan typically work 8 hours, 5 days a week. But in their case, if their boss requires them to report on Saturdays or work additional hours on weekdays, they have to do it. And the good news is, they get paid for every hour they work. Here is the breakdown of their hourly rate:
A male factory worker in Japan typically earns around JPY 1250/hr (approximately Php 587/hr) and they get an additional 25% of their base pay per hour if they are required to work extra hours or during the weekend.
So, on a regular month (meaning, without any overtime or weekend work) an average male factory worker earns:
JPY 1250 * 8 * 23 days = JPY 230,000 (approx. Php 106,000 or $2,177)/month
Not bad, right? But don’t get your hopes up just yet because according to expat cost-of-living database, Expatistan, as of August 2020, Japan ranks 24th among the countries with the highest cost of living in the world.
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What this means is that you need to spend more when living in countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong if you’re looking to work within the Asian region.
The Catch
Although you get to earn at least a 6-digit salary in pesos as a factory worker in Japan, remember that your daily expenses will be paid in Japanese yen so if you’re not careful with your finances, your earnings can easily turn into dust. According to Ronna, those who wish to work as OFWs in Japan should adopt the following mindset for success:
“Time is gold.”
Every minute you can do something to earn, use it wisely. As the famous saying goes, “time waits for no one” and so, if you have the opportunity to work, earn, and save up for your future now, do it – and do it to the best of your capacity!
“Save, save, and save for your future.”
Sure, earning a 6-digit salary every month is something you can be proud of. But guess what, that’s not the most important thing to be proud of: think about your investments, your future, as well as the future of your family.
If you’re earning a lot, you should also be saving up a lot. And eventually, use this savings to invest in something worthwhile such as your own house, your children’s education, a business, and other things that can help you become financially stable if and when you finally decide to return and settle down with your family in the Philippines. Again, the mindset should not be on the now, but always in the future.
“Maximize your youth, time, and energy working abroad now and reap the benefits in the future.”
Although Ronna and her husband are both working as factory workers in Japan, they both understand that their sacrifices now (while they are still young) will bear fruit in the future and will be enjoyed by their children and family once they decide to come home to the Philippines for good.
Ronna also emphasized that opportunities do not come by very often, so if you are given the chance, make sure to grab and make the most out of them. And while doing so, do not forget your goals and adopt the mindset for success we have listed above.
Are you interested in working in Japan? If you’re an OFW just like Ronna, what are some tips that you would like to share with other aspiring OFWs who want to work in Japan or in other places abroad? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below!
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