Interac (Japan)

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This article is about the Japanese company. For the Canadian interbank network, see Interac Association.

Interac
Type
Founded	September 1972
Headquarters	, Japan
Services	Education, consultation, publishing
Website	http://www.interac.co.jp/ (in Japanese)

Interac is a Japanese company which provides Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) for elementary and middle public schools and private companies. Founded in 1972, their client base includes more than 4,000 organizations such as Honda, the Hitachi Group, the Mitsubishi Group and NEC, as well as International Cooperation Agency.^[1] The company was co-founded by Roice Krueger,^[2] a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The company is owned by Selnate International School in Provo, Utah in the United States.^[3]^[4] "Interac" is an abbreviation for International Education Research and Analysis Corporation.^[5]

Local municipalities in Japan have been increasing their reliance on private ALT placement companies, Interac was chosen by the City of Yokohama to supply ALT's to area high schools in 2006. Interac dispatches teachers to approximately 1,400 school around Japan.^[6] The company has nine domestic branches within Japan, along with an overseas office in Provo. There are approximately 100 administrative staff and over 1,500 native-speaking Assistant Language Teachers and language consultants for English and other languages.

On June 30, 2007, NHK broadcast the story of Samantha Bouton, an American ALT living in Chiba Prefecture working for Interac and contracted to work in Japanese schools. The report notes that each week, Ms. Bouton, working with her teacher colleagues, makes her teaching schedule which she then sends to Interac. The company then returns the schedule as her official schedule. The report continues by saying this is, in fact, in conflict with Japanese law. Further, she works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week, for a total of 40 hours; however, her contract with Interac is for 29.5 hours only. This makes her ineligible for enrollment in Shakai hoken (Japanese Social Insurance). ^[7] ^[8]

The January 5, 2008 edition of The Japan Times carried a front-page story titled Assistant language teachers in trying times ^[9] The article discusses the state of ALTs in Japan, and specifically deals with some of the problems experienced by Ms. Bouton while contracted with Interac.

Interac unionized teachers are represented by Nambu Interac Branch, ^[10] and the General Union Interac Branch ^[11], both members of the National Union of General Workers, which is itself a member of Zenrokyo (National Trade Union Council).