Watami restaurant to set up Singapore unit to source foreign workers

The article should mention that Watami is frequently cited as one of Japan’s most notorious “black companies” owing to its abusive labor practices. In fact it has been voted the worst in all Japan on several occasions, with workers committing suicide due to overwork, abuse and and meager pay.

But oh, now they are recruiting young Cambodians to work through an Orwellian named “Global Dream Street” venture? How surprising.

Never eat at one of those places.

I'm curious to learn about what their living conditions will be like. In Singapore and other countries doing this, the foreigners live in a fenced off dormitories somewhat better than jail cells and then get kicked out of the country after a couple of years. They lead separate, marginalized lives, unable to make any contributions to the community.

Gotta love globalization!

The article should mention that Watami is frequently cited as one of Japan’s most notorious “black companies” owing to its abusive labor practices. In fact it has been voted the worst in all Japan on several occasions, with workers committing suicide due to overwork, abuse and and meager pay.

> But oh, now they are recruiting young Cambodians to work through an Orwellian named “Global Dream Street” venture? How surprising.

> Never eat at one of those places.

Thanks for telling us. I didn't know.

You can check other black awards awardees, just search for ブラック企業.

One of Watami employee Mina Mori, committed suicide two months after joining Watami. She was forced to work until late every night, with no days off, each month she did 140 hours overtime. Finally Watami received Black Awards in 2013.

Izakaya is one business that really labor intensive, graveyard shift, pretty busy especially when you have plenty customers.

"We are in tie-up talks with a Japanese-language school in Cambodia. We also have a plan to form a staffing entity," 

Do these people know list of Japanese black companies?

2 years ago I met the crooked founder of Watami in Yakushima while skinny-dipping with a female friend in a river next to his house. He invited us in to the private onsen at his mansion on the island. While we were talking, I realized that he only really wanted to look at the figure of the girl next to me. Later, I looked him up and discovered what a horrible person he is, earning his company "black" status.

I don't like the idea of anyone having to be exploited at such Japanese companies, particularly vulnerable foreign workers.

As other posters here have noted, Watami has a reputation of being the among the worst of the so-called "black companies" in Japan.

Major shareholders in Watami include Miki Watanabe and his family through a holding company (25%), Suntory Liquor (8.01%), Asahi Beer (4.26%), and Shinmei Holdings (4.19%)

Their restaurant is awful. Suprised they're still in business.