Hello
I have many questions in regards to our lost wages from GEOS. Will we get reimbursed for our unpaid wages? If yes, how can we claim for compensation? What do we need to apply? When will it be paid? How long does it take? Etc.
I know that NOVA employees got money back after NOVA went bankrupt. I guess it would be the same for us, right?? I’d like to think we will be paid back, but with the current economy and my luck I’m not too optimistic.
Thanks in advance

Hi Yui
The good news is that yes you should be able to get some of your wages back. According to the general union website, there is a Replacement Payment Scheme for Unpaid Wages that is run by the Japan Labor Health and Welfare Organisation.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to claim these payments until you receive a certificate detailing the amount that you are owed. If Nova is anything to go by, you can expect to wait at least 4months before you see any of that paperwork.

If you are going to move, you will need to get your mail redirected or you can leave your contact details with the general union. If you don't you will not receive the "details of unpaid wages" certificate (in Japanese 労働者別未払賃金ー覧表).
As for how much unpaid wages you will get back, it is 80% of the unpaid wages. Although there is a limit cap (maximum amount)based on the age of the employee. During the standby period your rate of pay would be calculated as 60% of the average wage, of this amount you will be able to recoup 80%. What is the average wage? The Average wage is calculated by dividing the total amount of wages paid in the 3 months preceding the day of the bankruptcy by the number of days in that period.
Unfortunately, the Replacement Payment Scheme does not cover Bonuses, so you can kiss them goodbye.

I have some of the documents that were sent to Nova employees regarding the recovery procedures for their unpaid wages. I will post these later.

The below information was sent to NOVA employees after NOVA went bankrupt. It outlines what they had to do to claim their unpaid wages.
I have included it so you can get an idea of what is involved in claiming back unpaid wages. I OCR'd the text, I didn't hand type it, so there may be some typos.
Use this as a guide only as the rules and regulations may have changed since Nova's bankruptcy.


未払賃金の立替払請求について
Concerning the claim for Replacement Payment of Unpaid Wages
1.立替払制度Replacement Payment System
既にご案内のように、破産手続開始決定までの未払賃金については、独立行政法人労働 者健康福祉機構から一定範囲について立替えて支払われます。
立替払いの対象となるのは、未払いの給与、退職金の8割ですが(但し、年齢による限 度額があります)、10月26日以降自宅待機が命じられた方については、その期間は、その 聞の給与全額ではなく休業手当(法に定められた「平均賃金」の6割)に対して、その8 割が支給対象となります。ここに「平均賃金Jとは，原則として，算定事由発生日以前3 ヶ月間にその労働者に対し支払われた賃金の総額を，その期間の総日数で除した金額をい し、ます。
また、このたびの手続は、未払いとなっている給与について先行して行し、ます。退職金 につきましては、適格退職年金契約がなされていることから別途の手続を要し、その手続 のためにさらに準備期間が必要です。退職金について対象となる方に上記手続が進捗しま したら、改めてご連絡を致します。
立替払制度の概要については、同機構のホームページに記載されていますので、ご参照 ください。(www.rofuku.go.jp/kinrosyashien/miharai.html)
As announced previously， a part of the unpaid wages earned up to the decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings will be reimbursed by the Japan Labor Health and Welfare Organization as a replacement payment.
The wages subject to this replacement payment are 80% (however there is a cap according to age) of the unpaid wages and the severance payment (if applicable)， however， for those who were ordered to stay at home from October 2"sz onwards， 80% of the absence allowance (which is 60% of the ‘average wage' stipulated in law)， and not the full wages during the period will be reimbursed. The average wage means here， in principle， the amount obtained by dividing the total amount of wages for a period of 3 months preceding the day on which the reason for calculating the average wage arose， by the number of all days during the period.
Also， at this time only procedures regarding unpaid wages will be carried out. Concerning reimbursement for any severance payment， separate proceedings are required as the company had a qualified retirement pension plan contract， and further time will be required for preparation to enter into those proceedings. When there is progress in the above proceedings we will contact those who are eligible for the retirement payment.
For the overview of the Replacement Payment System， please refer to the information provided on the organization's homepage.
www.rofuku.go.jp/kinrosyashien/miharai.html
2.立替払いの請求について
立替払いは、「未払賃金の立替払請求書」を労働者健康福祉機構に提出することによって 支払いの手続が開始されます。立替払いの請求ができる期間は、裁判所の破産手続開始決 定の日(平成19年11月26日)の翌日から起算して2年以内となっていますが、なるべく 早く手続を済まされるようお原郎、致します。
The procedures for the Replacement Payment will commence following submission of the ‘Application for Replacement Payment of Unpaid Wages' to the Japan Labor Health and Welfare Organization. The valid application period for replacement payment is within 2 years counting from the day following the day on which the court made the decision on the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings (November 26， 2007). however we ask you to complete the process as soon as possible.
*記載された内存を確認のうえ「記入例jに従って請求~ Iを記入してください。
内容に誤りがなければ、押印し、|司会lの封筒で、「未払賃金の立替払詰求書j及び「未払 賃金一覧表」を速やかに同機構に郵送してください。(恐れ入りますが各自切子を貼ってく ださい。)なお、日本国外に在住している力で、同封封筒を使用される場合にはiJAPANJ 等を追記して、日木に届くようにしてください。
Please check the information printed on the form and fill in the date of application as shown in the ‘Example and Notes'.
If there are no errors， attach your seal or signature and return the 'Application for Replacement Payment of Unpaid Wages' and ‘Details of unpaid wages' to the organization promptly using the return envelope enclosed. (Please attach a stamp)
Those who are residing outside Japan and are using the envelope enclosed， please write \JAPAN' etc. so that the documents are properly delivered to Japan.
*当方からお送りした「請求書及び退職所得の受給に関する申告書」の記載内容のうち退 職日を除く、住所、生年月日、性別、振込先等に誤りのある場合は、その部分を訂正し、 訂正印・サインをして機構へ提出してください。

The information below is what was given to NOVA employees after the NOVA bankruptcy.

Use this as a guide only as the rules and regulations may have changed since Nova's bankruptcy.

If there are any errors in the information regarding your address， date of birth， gender， deposit bank details， etc. (except the date of retirement)， as printed on the 'Application for Replacement Payment and the Declaration Concerning Receipt of Retirement Income'， please correct the error， attach your seal/signature， and submit the form to the organization.
*証明書部分(未払賃金額等)に誤りがあると思う方は、誤りがあるとする内容を書面で 具体的に記載し、根拠となる書類を添付して、早急に下記連絡先までご連絡ください。 その場合、確認のための時間はいただきますが、検討させていただきます。また証明書 の記載には万全を期しておりますが、万一証明書の記載内容と現実の就労実態が異なっ ている方は、返納を求めたり不正受給となるおそれがあるので、至急破産管財人室に連 絡してください。
If you think there are errors in the Certificate section (the amount of unpaid wages etc.) please specify the details that you think are in error in writing with documented proof attached， and send to the contact address below. In this case， we need some time to examine the claim but will consider the case. Also， although we took every possible measure to ensure the accuracy of the information on the Certificate， if the information on a person's Certificate differs from the real work status the person may be asked to return the payment or it becomes a case of illicit receipt， so please contact the office of trustees in bankruptcy immediately.
*請求書を提出される前に、再度機構からの文書をお読みいただき、漏れがなし、かご確認 ください。また、海外送金を希望される方についても同文書に手続の説明がありますので、 よくお読みください。
Before submitting the Application Form， please read the document from the organization again， and make sure there are no omissions or incomplete entries. Also， for those who request an overseas remittance， please read the explanation regarding the procedure on the same document carefully
*住所・連絡先の変更があった方、もしくはその予定がある方、その他不明な点のお問い 合わせについては、下記まで郵便またはFAXにてご連絡ください。
If you have changed， or are going to change your address/contact place， or if you have any questions and need clarification， please contact the address/fax number below.
*今回同封した書類は以下のとおりです。不足しているものがありましたら、下記までご
連絡をお願い致します。
The information enclosed at this time is as follows. If any item is missing， please contact the address/fax number below.
①「未払賃金の立替払請求についてJ (この文書)
'Concerning the claim for Replacement Payment of Unpaid Wages' (This document) ②「未払賃金の立替払請求書」
‘Application for Replacement Payment of Unpaid Wages'③「未払賃金の立替払請求書の記入例・注意事項」
'How to fill out the Application for Replacement Payment of Unpaid Wages - Example and Notesー‘
④「未払賃金立替払金を請求される皆様へJ (労働者健康福祉機構)
‘To those who apply for the Replacement Payment of Unpaid Wages' (by Japan Labour Health and Welfare Organization)
⑤「海外送金希望者への注意事項J (労働者健康福祉機構) [外国人の方のみに同封しています]
‘NOTES FOR THOSE WHO APPLY FOR OVERSEAS REMITTANCE' (by Japan Labour Health and Welfare Organization) (enclosed for non-Japanese only)
「未払賃金立替払金海外送金申請書」
‘Application Form for Overseas Remittance of Replacement Payment for Unpaid Wages'
@返信用封筒
Return envelope
⑦源泉徴収票
‘Gensen Choshuhyo' (Certificate of Withholding Tax)
③「未払賃金一覧表J
‘Details of unpaid wages'
[連絡先] Contact address
干530-0047大阪市北区西天満一丁目10番目号西天満あさひビル2階 破産者株式会社ノヴァ破産管財人室人事管理宛FAX 06-6360-6766
Attention to Jinji Kanri， the Office of Trustees in Bankruptcy， Bankrupt Company Nova Corporation
Nishi Temma Asahi Bldg. 2F 10-14 Nishi Temma 1 cho・me， Kita-ku， Osaka-shi
Fax: 06-6360-6766
3.その他
*源泉徴収票は、確定申告の際に必要となります。平成19年中に就職をされた方は、就職
先に提示し、その指示に従ってください。
‘Gensen Choshuhyo' will be necessary when you file the Final Tax Return. If you found other employment during 2007， please present the form to your employer and follow their instructions.
*立替払請求書提出時に国外に在住している方は、20%の所得税が課税されます。
If you reside outside Japan at the time of the application for the Replacement Payment， you will be subject to 20% income tax.

The information below is what was given to NOVA employees after the NOVA bankruptcy.

Use this as a guide only as the rules and regulations may have changed since Nova's bankruptcy.

NOTES FOR THOSE WHO APPLY FOR OVERSEAS REMITTANCE
If you request overseas remittance， please fill out the APPLICATION FOR OVERSEAS REMITTANCE with accompanying documents， and submit it with the APPLICATION FOR REPLACEMENT PAYMENT of Unpaid Wages. '
1 APPLICATION FOR OVERSEAS REMITTANCE
( 1) Application Form
The application form is available in English and Japanese， and you may use either form.
(2) Please keep in mind when filling out the form
For the column of Address in the APPLICATION FOR OVERSEAS REMITTANCE， please enter your home address registered with the beneficiary bank in your country.
2 ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS
( 1) A Copy of Passbook of the Beneficiary Bank etc.
Please attach a copy of your passbook of the beneficiary bank (part that shows the name of the bank/branch' bank account number etc.). If you do not have a passbook， please attach a copy of
any document， which is published by your beneficiary bank， and has the name of your bank/branch and account number.
(2) Identification Card etc. (Applicants with Foreign Nationality) Applicants with foreign nationality must submit a copy of their passports or foreign registration certificates.
①If you are submitting your foreign registration card， please photocopy the reverse side as well.
②If you are submitting your passport， please make sure to
include the copy of the page which shows your name etc.， the most recent permission of landing， permission of changing status of residence.
3 TAX AND REMITTANCE CHARGE ( 1) Tax
• If your current address entered on the “APPLICATION FOR REPLACEMENT PAYMENT OF UNPAID WAGES"at the time of request is outside Japan，
you will be considered a nonresident， and you will be subjected to the income tax of 20%.
( 2) Remi ttance Charge
Overseas remittance requires a commission fee of 5000 yen. You may also be charge a commission fee.
Please note that tax and remittance charge will be deducted from the replacement payment.

How to fill out the application for replacement wages (Based on the NOVA paperwork)
The information below is what was given to NOVA employees after the NOVA bankruptcy.

Please use this as a guide only as the rules and regulations may have changed since Nova's bankruptcy.