Gov't names and shames 'black' companies violating labor laws

And the list is?

99% of Japanese companies do this. It would be much easier to make a list of companies that actually don't break the law.

There two types of Japanese company, black ones and those not reported yet.

Why not just enforce the laws?

They should include "英会話スクール"

@krustytheclown : Because all Japanese companies do it. They are shaming the big companies because they can afford to lose some face, smaller companies would have to close shop.

Hold the board to account, corporate responsibility ends at the top. That is where the buck stops.

Lock a few up, make sure the fines are punitive and deter.

zurcronium Today  04:07 pm JST

And the list is?

...directly linked in the article. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/kinkyu/dl/170510-01.pdf for people whose browsers don't distinguish hypertext from regular text.

Sooooooo... they know about it, know the companies involved, are willing to name and shame SOME (but not all), but still won't fine or otherwise punish them for BREAKING THE LAW? And what about the ones they DON'T name and shame because it doesn't consider doing so as helpful in stopping the abuse? "Shouganai?"

Wow... TIJ.

Wow! That's quite a list and I would estimate that only includes about a quarter of all the companies abusing staff. However, I have to ask, why have these companies not been fined and made to compensate the abused staff? Yeah, a few 'may' have had to pay, but the majority have not. This list amounts to nothing more than a big, "So what!" The university graduates and unemployed have no choice than to apply to these black companies in order to survive. It's up the the government and the labor ministry to abolish these slavery practices and severely punish those who disregard the laws. "Dreams are free!"

Disillusioned: Agreed. I remember when I first came here and marvelled at the tobacco and alcohol vending machines and would ask some people, "What's to stop anyone from buying it, adult or not?" and people would say, "We have the honour system here. If I child were caught buying something they shouldn't, it would bring shame to them and their family, so few do." That was also kind of the thing people relied on when corporal punishment was made illegal in schools (I agree with that, but not my point) -- a kind of "we'll abide by the rules" expectation. Sure enough, when kids, and this case companies, can flagrantly get away with breaking the rules and laws without any punishment, they cease caring, if they did at all, about what the 'adults' have to say. So, why should these companies stop at all?

Japanese culture teaches and encourages it's population to be subservient and unquestioning, which is easily exploited by business. The younger generation is slowly standing up to this culture, thankfully, but will still take generations to eliminate this culture entirely.

J-companies are fast overtaking their chinese counterparts for dishonesty, intimidation of customers, mislabelling etc.

You can be sure that the largest employer in Japan won't be on that list..........them folks got it good!

Was the word "black" used in English news since that gives a possible silly but possible racist tone to the concept? What was word used in nihongo? Of we do say a business is in the red or in the black. True. So just curious what nihongo term was in news in j newspapers. PC or not, just curious. Paint it black. Blackout. Blacklisted.

The companies named in the list are not all there because they are working their employees to death. Some of them are cited for violating safety rules etc.

@krustytheclown

"Why not just enforce the laws?"

Far too logical and proactive mate ;o)

Is there not a functioning government in Japan that can enforce the laws? Y'know, defend citizens?

Japanese culture teaches and encourages it's population to be subservient and unquestioning, which is easily exploited by business. The younger generation is slowly standing up to this culture

this sounds like a quote from one of those books that teaches you about Japanese culture, but have you worked in a Japanese company with young Japanese? It is quite the contrary, the young ones are actually more subservient. The "rebellious" ones are about 30-35.

Why not just enforce the laws?

If Japan enforced their laws Yakuza would be in jail, smokers smoking on the street would be stopped and fined and nobody would die from overwork

Why not just enforce the laws?

It would appear the law was enforced.

Now they are also publicizing violators.

Maybe people here are asking for law changes. The state can't just arbitrarily punish violators as much as they feel like on a case by case basis.

I agree with zurcronium ! where is the list ? Would be nice for Japantoday to provide links (like other news sites). This is the 3rd such story in two days where they mention a link but don't actually provide it to the reader.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/kinkyu/dl/170510-01.pdf is the list (from the article). It is Japanese, as should be expected.

Haven't worked in Japan in a long while, but when I was there, 16+ hr days was the norm.

The list IS included in the story... third word of the second paragraph...

Come into effect in 2019?? A "band aid" fix to look good before the Olympics. Who knows what will happen after that.

Just my opinion, but what the J.gov needs to do is FINE the companies for labor violations.   Best way to get companies to comply is to hit them enough in the pocketbook.  Make your laws have teeth.   But then again, you have to make GOOD laws first.

In this case,Prefix of 'Black' should be added to all Japanese companies!

"Gov't names and shames 'black' companies violating labor laws"

Not worth the paper its printed on.... hold on its a pdf

However, not all companies under investigation are publicised or included in the list, a labor ministry official said. The ministry publicises the companies' names only when it decides doing so would help encourage compliance and would be in the public good, she added.

Tokyo needs a DineSafe system like we have in Toronto, where restaurants are tested and given a Green, Yellow, or Red display they have to have on their front door based on how they do. Red means they're closed until they are in compliance with Public Health. No one is immune from assessment.

This could work here for the Black list. A company based on the number of accidents and deaths they create would be rated on their front door with Green (zero this month), Yellow ( a few deaths), Red ( who's counting? )

It would be perfect system for Japan that trivializes human life. Yes this is sarcastic, but hilariously it would still be an improvement

OH MY GOD, look they made a LIST, otsukaresama NOT!!

Like others are saying fine the damned offenders & COMPENSATE the abused!!!

Way to go govt you have just given the GREEN LIGHT to carry on with the abuse, what a joke!

If company is found to have caused deaths by overwork or faulty products, then they should be charged with neglect or manslaughter. They would get fined and have all operations suspended (imitating jail sentence) for the same time as a person would be in jail. If it warrants punishment for murder, then the corporate death penalty (company dissolved and assets given to victims). Just my opinion.

LOL, so this is the government's solution to karoshi, name the companies who are breaking the law, and I mean if you still decide to work there then thats your problem right? Problem solved!

@Danny Bloom The term in Japanese is ブラック企業　burakku kigyou. So yes, "black" is the appropriate translation.

So Japan Government admits that slave labor is ingrain in Japan business and industry. I been commiting on this slave labor culture will effect the Nikki and the Japanese dollar. Let see the Yen value drop 10 % over the next 3 months.

Jumin.

Nice idea and what about the rest of the emploees?

So I (worker) should punished/fired because someone died in another department/location?

Honestly wish a bit more thought went into some posts.

So I (worker) should punished/fired because someone died in another department/location?

well no, your employer has been outed as having violated labour laws. You won't be fired for that unless you were responsible for the violation yourself. If anything the remaining workers might find that their conditions be remediated as a result.

thats how it would be in a normal economy but in anti competitive Japan can't be sure I suppose.

Did you read the post I replied to?

Mine was addressed to said poster. SMH.

I see, fair points.