Seishain dismissal ... possible outcomes?

Hello.
I have encountered with the problem, so need direction and/or advice from people who know what actions to take.

Relatively new company has a sales department consisting of foreigners on sei shain contracts (3 people who were hired 5 months ago). Due to a recent losses the director was replaced by the owner of the company. The restructuring has started.
The decision has been made to close sales department.
We are offered 1 year contract with the reduction of salary with another company owned by our current director/owner.

What are possible ways to take actions for me? Pros and cons would help to make decision too.

P.S. we didn`t get dismissal letter yet.

Is it possible they just regret having started off making people seishain and want to do a shell-game shuffle to get you all as contract employees performing the exact same work you're doing now?

You may wish to contact a labor attorney. Contact the bar association in your area for a referral.

Mike Cash said:

Is it possible they just regret having started off making people seishain and want to do a shell-game shuffle to get you all as contract employees performing the exact same work you're doing now?

You may wish to contact a labor attorney. Contact the bar association in your area for a referral.

Click to expand...

What we know - the loss was due to some wrongdoing of another department employees and the steps have already been made (commission cut, rules changed, some salary cut).
Of course it is possible that they regret of hiring people as seishain. I think they feel they would better off if they fire all of us, because the HR manager of the company we are supposed to go told us ``we are doing you a favor by offering 1 year contract``.

Yeah....companies do all sorts of "favors" for their employees. There is a possibility that an examination of the facts might reveal this to be a case of wrongful termination. Companies are allowed to restructure employees out the door if they can show a need to do so. Whether this is such a case or whether they're just trying to have you all do the same work for less pay and under less favorable terms is something beyond our ability to judge.

Talk to a labor attorney. The local bar association can recommend someone and may even have "first time free" consultations available. Your local city hall may have such service available especially for foreigners. You may also find it worthwhile to consult with the Labor Standards office (労働基準局).

Get informed opinions from knowledgeable, trained, qualified, practicing professionals who actually know what they're talking about and may actually be able to help you in a meaningful way. Well-intentioned strangers on net forums are good sources of sympathy, but little more.

You might want to contact 窶邸ﾆ弾ﾆ停?ｰﾆ湛 (Japan Legal Support Center) as well.
Japan Legal Support Center
(Japanese page has much more detailed information.)