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Companies urged to end 'maternity harassment' of technical interns

25 Comments
By Misato Iwai

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25 Comments
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Props to Ms. Yoshimizu for the assistance she is giving to ensure the labor conditions provided these technical interns complies with Japan's Equal Employment Opportunity Law.

10 ( +18 / -8 )

With the union's help, 153 expectant women and mothers of young children were supported... 

A case of working people in Japan who must turn to charity for support because their employers and govt don't provide it. How third world of you, Japan.

-22 ( +17 / -39 )

Prison Japan?

Imagine being a worker in Japan being bullied and discriminated against due to becoming pregnant?

-19 ( +14 / -33 )

It should be in their contracts..

Max 3 years then return to home country. No exceptions.

Instant return if pregnant or commit a crime or become seriously ill. This isn't a government support scheme for Vietnamese single mothers.

10 ( +28 / -18 )

Imagine being from a poor country and getting a job in a rich country and then getting paid even though don't work and you are not sick.

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

These companies are breaking Japanese laws yet there’s no penalty or fine?

Yet steal a bag of candy from a convenience store and the outcome is very different.

Truly,Japan’s image is going down the tubes…

-23 ( +13 / -36 )

Payed slavery is alive and kicking in Japan sadly...

-22 ( +10 / -32 )

Sadly, The pleasure of life is prohibited in Corp. Japan.

-19 ( +8 / -27 )

"" Imagine being from a poor country and getting a job in a rich country and then getting paid even though don't work and you are not sick ""

Locals Scammers do it all the times but with the Systems Help and Support.

-9 ( +7 / -16 )

This isn't a government support scheme for Vietnamese single mothers.

Indeed. It's a government-sponsored corporate welfare scheme, so that Japanese companies can get foreign labor without taking responsibility for the foreign people they rely on for their existance.

So take note, all of you people from developed countries working in jobs in Japan that can and will be replaced by AI in the future. Japan really doesn't want you and will be happy to see you gone once your uselfullness ends. This scheme -- and its treatment of humans as no more than labor units -- is a clear manifestiation of that attitude.

-12 ( +11 / -23 )

japanese justice does not recognize harassment or human rights.

maternity harassment is just a detail of banality here....

those interns need to find a better place IMHO.

-14 ( +9 / -23 )

Why are intern trainees getting pregnant?

4 ( +13 / -9 )

Japan really doesn't want you and will be happy to see you gone once your uselfullness ends.

As it should be due to the fact that:

jobs in Japan that can and will be replaced by AI in the future

Japan already has a huge issue with its growing elderly demographic. Exacerbating the issue by taking on more and more unemployed would only double the strain on the public coffers.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Jiho Yoshimizu, the representative director of a friendship association that supports Vietnamese residents of Japan, recently published her first book titled "If You Get Pregnant, Sayonara," detailing the stark reality of "maternity harassment" in which technical interns are forced out of their jobs.

Yoshimizu's book should be required reading for intern trainees. With a test question that needs to be correctly in order to pass evaluation. That question being "What happens when you get pregnant in Japan as an intern trainee?" A) you get free healthcare services, paid leave and your child automatically becomes a Japanese citizen or B) you get deported back to your native country to have your child and are allowed to re enter the program when your child is old enough that you can return to Japan on your own.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

*needs to be answered correctly

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

JeffLee - you’re being downvoted because you’re right

-10 ( +10 / -20 )

 you’re being downvoted because you’re right

He's right! AI will have rendered 50% of current jobs obsolete within the next two decades...or sooner!

He's bang on about such labor or white collar workers no longer being necessary...bang on!

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Foreigners shouldn’t go to Japan for work if they think the Japanese companies have strict rules in place. They go there knowing everything about the so called technical internship programs and then whine about it 24/7!

The sad part of it all is that the customer service in Japan is deteriorating due to too many part time foreigners working who are not following the proper training provided to them by Japanese managers and instead try to treat customers the same terrible way that they do back on their own country! A few foreigners adapt so well to Japanese style but most foreigners are just not good suitable for Japanese working style and Japanese work culture!

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

A few foreigners adapt so well to Japanese style but most foreigners are just not good 

I'm taking a wild guess you are "one of the few"?

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Near Slave labor wages and bulling is part of the culture. If you can’t deal with it it’s not the right country for you. Of course Japanese companies are taking advantage that’s what the visa is intended. Cause trouble whe bye bye. Frankly people just need to stop coming and then things will change. But someone will always fill the job.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

Japan: We need more people to make babies.

People: I'm pregnant. I'm going to have a baby.

Japanese companies: You're fired.

Japan: We are raising taxes and prices on daily goods.

People: Oh, no. I need work and more money.

Japanese companies: There's a labor shortage.

People: Raise the pay.

Japanese companies: What can we do to get more workers? Except raising the pay?

Japan: Our law makers just got raises.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

japan had a magnificent reputation for quality and efficient service, certain Asian nations are renowned for labour exports to produce inward remittances. Tighten employment conditions, minimum pay arrangements with R.O.A denied, needs renewable 2yr contract controls. all parties will know the ground rules. maternity= legal min with no ROA. same as other places local to yous. I dunno US regulations??

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Fact is that too many women take paid maternity leave and then hand in their resignation when that paid time frame runs out. I don't blame companies for firing them right out.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Sometimes being politically correct doesn't mean you are correct.

It's a fact that many FEMALE employees ( and not just the male ones), detest their female colleagues taking maternity leave ( esp PAID maternity leave) because now they are the ones saddled with the pregnant women's work.

During breaks, you should hear some of the things women say about other women......

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Japan's agricultural and manufacturing industries, which are among the worst impacted by the labor shortage

Yet, they're the ones who tend to step on human rights when given the opportunity to make any cheap profit. What an odd situation.

I guess every foreigner or someone with foreigner acquaintances have heard a couple stories about women giving birth at the factory for hiding their pregnancies, babies found in public toilets or even trash bins.

It is just too chaotic to even fsthom that this same country is struggling with low birth rates and labor shortage.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

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