This video reports that many interns are underpaid, saddled with insurmountable debt, and forced into a form of indentured servitude. Many are illegally placed as oyster shuckers, construction workers, and other unskilled positions. that many interns are underpaid, saddled with insurmountable debt, and forced into a form of indentured servitude. Vice News, May 1, 2015.
From across Asia, about 190,000 migrant trainees toil in Japanese factories and farms. Allegations of labor abuses against these workers are widespread. New York Times, Jul 2010
As Japan Tries Out Immigration, Migrant Workers Complain Of Exploitation An article and a podcast yoiu can listen to that focuses on the story of Nguyen from Vietnam and the Technical Internship Training Programme. National Public Radio,15 Jan 2019.
Japan's new visa system for migrant workers only extends the scope for exploitation This article focuses mainly on problems with the Technical Internship Training Programme and how the new immigration law will only worsen those problems. It also look at labour problems in the supply chains of the 12 major Japanese companies. Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, no date but probably 2018.
As foreign workers disappear, Japan puts in measures to improve working conditions A report that looks at the number of foreign workers who run away from their employers in japan and 'disappear' and some of the problems with working conditions for foreign workers related to this. NHK World, 15 Jan 2020.
Japan Limited Immigration; Now It’s Short of Workers This is a long article that looks at the reality of use as manual labourers, exploitation and under payment for trainees on the technical training internship programme and also at how this programme, as well students, asylum seekers and South Americans of Japanese ancestry are being used as foreign migrant labour in Japan even though Japan doesn't officially accept unskilled foreign migrants. New York Times, 10 Feb 2017.
Foreign workers in Japan 'exploited as cheap labour’ Many firms reported to be abusing intern scheme to fill jobs shunned by Japanese The article tells the story of a Chinese trainee, Tang Xili, and explains how the internship training programme is used by Japanese companies to find cheap foreign labour to do jobs that they can't get Japanese workers for. Straits Times, 24 Feb 2016.
90% of foreign residents in Japan say they need more public support with living conditions, survey finds Assistance in finding housing is sought most, the internal affairs ministry said Tuesday. The survey highlighted the pressure to enhance the living environment for foreign residents, which has increased due to April’s launch of a visa system to address chronic labor shortages. Japan Times, 25 Jun 2019.
Film exposes struggles of Japan’s ‘hidden’ workers The documentary “Sour Strawberries: Japan’s Hidden ‘Guest Workers,’ ” depicts the struggles of non-Japanese in Japan as they strive for their rights as workers and citizens. Filmed by a Japanese and German film crew in March 2008, the documentary focuses on the experiences of nikkeijin (economic migrants) and “trainees” who can mostly only find short-term employment in low-wage sectors. Japan Times, 27 Mar 2009.
67% of missing foreign trainees worked below minimum wage: opposition parties Looks at a claim from opposition political parties in Japan about the widespread underpayment of trainees, as well as overwork, on the training programme and that the Ministry of Justice tried to hide the real situation. Maincihi Shinbun, 4 Dec 2018.
Forced Labor Risk in Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program A longer report that looks at the situation of Chinese trainees in Gifu who brought legal cases against their companies about exploitation and poor-working conditions. It includes short 'case studies' that tell the stories and experiences of individual trainees. Verite, 2018. This link downloads as a pdf file.
Japan’s Technical Intern Training Programme - Learning the Hard Way? An article that explains how the TITP works, the criticisms of the harsh working conditions on the programme and possible and actual measures that could be taken to prevent abuse of trainees on the programme, especially ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Institute for Human Rights and Business, 16 October 2017. See also a longer report on the same issues Learning Experience? Japan’s TITP and the Challenge of Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers which downloads as a pdf file.
Foreign workers in Japan 'exploited as cheap labour’ Many firms reported to be abusing intern scheme to fill jobs shunned by Japanese The article tells the story of a Chinese trainee, Tang Xili, and explains how the internship training programme is used by Japanese companies to find cheap foreign labour to do jobs that they can't get Japanese workers for. Straits Times, 24 Feb 2016.
Despite staff shortages, foreign care workers still face barriers to jobs in Japan This article explains the two systems for foreign care workers to work in japan and looks at the experiences of Reia Zafra, a care worker form the Philippines. Mainichi Shinbun, 31 Aug 2018.
Give prospective foreign care workers support to overcome language barriers This editorial calls for improvements to the working environment for foreign care workers. Yomiuri Shimbun, 7 Sep 2019.