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Japan's aid agency to launch support body for foreign workers

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I feel that somewhere along the line these discussions have devolved into partisan camps playing “Japan vs. 外国” or “doctored death counts conspiracy vs. coronavirus isn’t real conspiracy” or “save the economy vs. public health” wargames. Maybe it is a sign of the times, but it is sad to see at the time of the single largest global event most of us will see in our lifetimes, we revert to such black and white views. This is a global pandemic, every nation needs to work both domestically and internationally to bring it under control. There are no conspiracies. Economies and public health are not mutually exclusive.

Testing and reporting is merely data. Perhaps wider testing provides more data. Perhaps it is also vulnerable to error. But whatever testing regime we are using, we, the people, need to genuinely acknowledge what it says. In Japan, at this time, after about a month of stability, cases outside Tokyo are rising. We have seen a similar situation before, when in late June cases began rising, with Tokyo as the main barometer at that time. We should take measures now to mitigate that rise, or, as we saw in August and early September, there may be another peak. And at the same time, we should support each other economically, and emotionally, and humanely, responsibly. This is not going to end anytime soon. It is a global problem.

Finally, I know it is not anyone’s intention, but when you know someone who has died alone on a ventilator in Japan from covid, these comments about deaths are at the very least unempathetically worded.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Unlike Japan, EU and US don't have shortage of worker and they don't try to conceal working condition of their labor."

Yeah right, go take a look at the farms and fast food industry.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The body, called the Japan Platform for Migrant Workers toward Responsible and Inclusive Society, will seek to make Japan a more attractive choice for foreigners amid the country's acute labor shortage by strengthening communication, proposing initiatives for reform, and conveying information within Japan and abroad.

This description tells you all you need to know about this flabby, toothless bureaucratic initiative.

A lot of harried bureaucrats will listen to foreign workers stories of gross malfeasance by Japanese companies and file reports and recommend legal action with no recourse and nothing will be enforced or get done.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

To the people who are offended by the negative comments, please look at NZ's RSE scheme. In NZ, "the 2019 season, harvesting roles paid an average of $22.72 per hour. Rates, however, do vary, from $18.90 to $30.50. These rates can be affected depending on whether you are paid hourly or on a piece rate, i.e. a rate based on how much. All workers must receive the minimum wage of $18.90 + 8% holiday pay"

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/research-and-statistics/research-reports/recognised-seasonal-employer-rse-scheme

Please, instead of blindly defending Japan, look at a functional system (notice I didn't say good, simply functional). Notice the differences. See where improvements can be made. Just because it's not the best doesn't make it the worst. Just because it has fault doesn't make it useless. And in the reverse, just because something is perceived as good doesn't mean it can't be improved.

Japan is a great place, it has a lot going for it. I really hope that sometime in my lifetime Japan as a country will be able to start accepting it's faults and fix them.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Migrant workers hold similar values the world over. Reasonable pay and conditions for reasonable work. If they find the work agreeable, then a path to long term residency without caps on the length employment etc.

The last part is something Japan never finds palatable. Giving lower skilled blue collar workers a path to residency.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

My ex- wife worked for this institution. It was and I still think, is rife with the amakudari syndrome. It's used as a reward and a soft landing for most jijis and bachans, who previously aided in the smooth bureaucratic intercourse between government and corporations. They end up here as heads of departments e.t.c. and have their golden parachutes.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japan Platform for Migrant Workers

Change the name to “Japan Exploitation Platform for Migrant Workers”.

give tax money and tax exemptions to big companies that use cheap labor

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So many want to come to Japan to work especially now that there's scarcity of jobs in other countries.

Origin countries those workers coming from are emerging countries, they won't having dificulties finding a job. Especially with skill that they have in order to qualify to enter trainee program, they can make good life by working in their own country. They were being promoted that they will have better wage in Japan even it will make them have debt.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I wonder what the EU and the US do? Nothing. Go take a look at working conditions in the US and EU. A joke.

Unlike Japan, EU and US don't have shortage of worker and they don't try to conceal working condition of their labor.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Many years ago I went to a worker support agency that was run through the local city hall to complain about being made to do unpaid overtime and prejudices because i am not Japanese. They listened to my case, disappeared for ten minutes, came back and said, “This is Japan. You should get used to it.” That was the first and last time I ever tried to get any worker support in Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

   A start, I guess. Does it have teeth?

For trainee program, it already has JITCO from early 90s but not so much you can expect from them. Any fact about trainee will be shown to public not by official. So far no organization really have teeth to protect those trainee.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/11/20/national/politics-diplomacy/japans-justice-minister-apologizes-erroneous-data-foreign-interns/

   The body, called the Japan Platform for Migrant Workers toward Responsible and Inclusive Society, will seek to make Japan a more attractive choice for foreigners amid the country's acute labor shortage by strengthening communication, proposing initiatives for reform, and conveying information within Japan and abroad.

It just another campaign to attract foreign worker which can lead them to get into debt, even before they go can arrive to Japan.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/07/business/insiders-warns-continued-exploitation-technical-trainee-brokers-japan-launches-new-visa-system/

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Why not entice young folk in Japan to do the labor with higher pay and keep Japan, Inc. running? If the only reason foreign workers are necessary is because no Japanese is willing to do the work, doesn't that say something about the industry itself?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

They should stop japanese employers from getting rid of staff just because they' are approaching working for five years. Staff who work hard and have a good sickness record and no warnings or disciplinarys should not be disposed of like used tissues. Even if they were only given a five year contract. It's wrong if they are good employees. In fact, every employee in Japan should be entitled to an automatic permanent contract after completing a successful probationary year.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The body, called the Japan Platform for Migrant Workers toward Responsible and Inclusive Society, will seek to make Japan a more attractive choice for foreigners amid the country's acute labor shortage by strengthening communication, proposing initiatives for reform, and conveying information within Japan and abroad.

At times I feel like some articles here have been outsourced to India and the person writing the

article is not familiar at all about the situation here. It boggles the mind that with thousands of small businesses, restaurants closed, ryokans, hotels and even the mighty ANA is moving around begging

for it's workers to be given packing, cleaning jobs at even supermarkets, somebody would still be talking

about acute shortage. Yeah, We get it, Japan is teflon and not affected by the virus and the pandemic.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

LOL at all the negative comments. I wonder what the EU and the US do? Nothing. Go take a look at working conditions in the US and EU. A joke.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Indeed, Marcelito. JICA is a vehicle for corporate welfare, little else.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

A start, I guess. Does it have teeth?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Thousands have fled from the program to date, according to the Justice Ministry, likely due to low wages and long working hours.

No. most likely to gross human rights violations.

The number of foreign residents of Japan holding the new skilled worker visa totaled 1,621 as of Dec 31, up more than sevenfold from the end of September but short of 47,550 the government had expected in the first year,

Its pretty telling when people from impoverished countries DON'T want to stay and work here. When the country can only fill 1/29th of the jobs they have. LOL

Too little, too late!

Better roll out the robots then...

yep

9 ( +9 / -0 )

A step in the right direction, though it boggles the mind that such an organization wasn't set up when the program was launched.

No mention of funding but it should be private -- from the corporations and other businesses that directly benefit - not from the general accounts (ie, "taxpayer money").

5 ( +5 / -0 )

So many want to come to Japan to work especially now that there's scarcity of jobs in other countries.

But they do need to do things like this to improve the foreign workers' situations and keep them.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

So even the makers of the laws now realise it's a failed system. That they cerated. Stupidity doubled down.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

Thousands have fled from the program to date, according to the Justice Ministry, likely due to low wages and long working hours.

Too little, too late!

Better roll out the robots then...

12 ( +12 / -0 )

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