Gov't bans intermediary body from introducing foreign trainees

Revoking the company's permit and paying the man some compensation is all well and good, but every single employee who participated or looked on should probably be facing assault charges too.

Not a word about whether the coworkers who assaulted the intern will be charged and prosecuted.

If I worked for ANYBODY that laid a finger on me, you know what would happen...and I worked for some pretty shady characters in Japan

Tough guy, WA4TKG. Likely the intermediate organization is controlled by organized crime, held the man's passport, and would have charged him hundreds of thousands of yen in "fees" to allow him to return home (if they hadn't already made him pre-pay, to be returned as a "bonus" upon contract completion) if he'd made any complaint. Foreign "trainees" may be tough guys, but the whole system is against them, including the government.

It is the 33rd time that the permit for an intermediary organization has been revoked since a law clarifying the obligations and responsibilities of companies accepting trainees and intermediary bodies took effect in 2017, according to the immigration agency.

These dispatchers, middle men, human traffickers are a big part of the problem.

Of course the culprits are unnamed, and it is highly probable they reincorporate under different names and reapply for permits ( a few cases of which I have heard of second hand).

Get rid of them along with the gig/temp work middle men.

This was only a very visible case, but if all reports were to be treated the same I wonder if any organization mediating the trainee program would still be in business.

Its what comes to kind for sure, will the actual perpetrators be charged with a crime?

I think with the way this is worded, he probably struck a deal with them to receive monies to avoid litigation.

Its in their best interests now to keep this as it is, have everything paid for and “justice” served and move on.

An actual disputed case puts it 10x more in the public view, paints Japan as a bad place to relocate to, and puts their lucrative business of cheaply getting foreign labor at risk.

When the Justice Minister is actual making a statement, you know they want this to be done.

Well I hope he got a lot of money and a personal apology.

Sounds odd. I’ve worked on Japanese construction sites in university. Not the greatest working environment but the only abuse I received was verbal in the form of the supervisor yelling at me for going to the bathroom. Nothing physical. Hope they pay him.

This will just increase the cost to Japanese companies for importing these cheap laborers.

This technical internship scheme entirely failing. for last 9 years anywhere btw 5000 ~9000 trainees disappearing every year. It must be abolished immediate. For technical transfer, send professionals overseas within the framework of ODA and accept limited number of elites as on-the job in Japan with thorough pre-screening by govt-agency itself

Gov't bans intermediary body from introducing foreign trainees

good, but not enough. there needs to be more investigation done on those intermediaries

These introductions were the organization's core business, according to its website. I wonder what it and its staff are going to do for the next 5 years. Japanese white collar workers normally don't do a lot of career-shifting or job hopping!

These Modern Slavery System must be dismantled, it invites scammers and shady companies to expand their extortionate operations.

If Japan need labor workers to come and work in Japan the the government itself must set up the system needed to manage these laborers and keep these Middle Man private companies OUT of it.

Japanese embassies in these nations can and should be able to handle these operation fairly easy.

Admitting the system is broken but fail to even mention any kind of change is the biggest failure.

And since the data given here indicate this "punishment" has occurred 33 times, means it's obviously not working...

Also, it's sad that I've come to accept this is the norm here in Japan.

""When he was taken to hospital for a broken tooth following a beating, an organization worker who accompanied him falsely told a doctor that the man had fallen off his bicycle, they said.""

So ugly and sad that even the people who suppose to be his line defence LIED to the hospital staff yet causing him even more stress and suffering.

""The Organization for Technical Intern Training, a government entity overseeing the technical internship program, has filed a complaint with the Okayama prefectural police accusing the Japanese co-workers of assaulting the Vietnamese man.""

Good and I hope they are charged to the full extend of the law.

I saw the disgusting treatment of this guy on the news yesterday it was guy wrenching to watch! They should all be in jail and the victim paid some serious compensation ! Imagine if it had of been the other way around...

The introductory system should be banned once and for all, not just for Vietnam but also in other countries especially Southeast Asia.

"We are aware of the vicious human rights violations and criminal acts carried out under this company, so, we are suspending them from LEGALLY introducing trainees under our trafficking -- err... internee... er, work program for a few years. No, no criminal prosecutions or fines as we feel that would be too harsh for the human rights violations and law-breaking, and we believe they feel remorse and wish to get back to the good work of introducing new workers."

I mean, heaven forbid the government actually take steps towards ending these "vicious human rights abuses". I bet the company could even change its name and then begin again tomorrow.

Elites? Lol, funny, elite professionals choose US, Europe, Canada, Australia, Dubai,HK and anywhere else before Japan that pays 1/3 or less of a salary than other places. And let's not even get into other benefits such as friendly English speaking environment, easy path to permanency / citizenship for the professionals and their families if they so desire and the rest of it. Next to no high skill professional is interested in Japan anymore. Japan may still be attractive for the low paid farm/ factory blue collar labour from SE Asia but even that appeal is fading as other countries pay more and are more welcoming. Only right wing fanboys keep delluding themselves about how desirable Japan is as a work place. The failure of the touted govt program to attract high skill professionals here is a testament to that.

You really like me don't you Marcelito ? lol...

Of course limiting number means higher salary compared to current messy situation with intermediaries' exploitation. If still not appealing compared to all those other countries, so be it. There's no reason trainees are paid higher than trainers. Farms/fisheries/factories/any companies facing shortage of labor should raise salaries regardless to attract Japanese youth. If they can't so be it. just as simple as that.

The Japanese government on Tuesday revoked the permit of an intermediate organization that introduces foreign trainees to host companies after it failed to prevent the physical abuse of a Vietnamese man by his Japanese co-workers

How about checking on the foreigners who die in govt custody?

This will just increase the cost to Japanese companies for importing these cheap laborers.

great then itll make hiring and abusing foreign worker les desirable, J companies can pay people a livable wage

I worked side by side with some Vietnamese "interns" for a few months. I've worked some tough gigs in my life but I could only back this for a few months. It was ridiculous in terms of safety, pay and overall attitude toward work. The abuse and exploitation is rife. These little guys treated me like a brother and my heart really goes out to them. I hope this "program" gets the reputation it deserves in the countries where the source these slaves!

Verbal abuse is one thing - but when it goes physical...that's a whole different level. It is self evident that this company has, is and will not stop. These perpetrators are a mockery of justice.

Revoke the entire program it's salve labor!

I also think this system should be stopped, and of course there are many workplaces in Japan that are not good. However, it is not so much the working environment in Japan that causes slavery, but rather the fact that trainees are saddled with a great deal of debt by Vietnamese recruitment agencies before they come to Japan from Vietnam.

The debt is so great upon arrival in Japan that the trainees are unable to pay back the debt with their salaries, causing them to commit crimes or flee their training places to take jobs where they can make more money. Their debts would be an obstacle to them performing their jobs diligently.

If the Vietnamese guy successfully sues the firm, a Japanese court might award him a windfall fortune of $4,200 bucks.

The US overdoes it (millions for spilling hot coffee on you balls or whatever), but Japan should award more damages than it generally does.

Perhaps a Vietnamese boy band could come to Tokyo to speak with the PM about it.

...and the construction company?

Why are the employees of the construction company have not been charged with GBH???

Since years they should revoke the entire slavery program but government is part of this system and make them feel "great again" like old time with colonies.

Elites? Lol, funny, elite professionals choose US, Europe, Canada, Australia, Dubai,HK and anywhere else before Japan that pays 1/3 or less of a salary than other places. And let's not even get into other benefits such as friendly English speaking environment, easy path to permanency / citizenship for the professionals and their families if they so desire and the rest of it. Next to no high skill professional is interested in Japan anymore. Japan may still be attractive for the low paid farm/ factory blue collar labour from SE Asia but even that appeal is fading as other countries pay more and are more welcoming. Only right wing fanboys keep delluding themselves about how desirable Japan is as a work place. The failure of the touted govt program to attract high skill professionals here is a testament to that.

Excellent post!

Of course limiting number means higher salary compared to current messy situation with intermediaries' exploitation. If still not appealing compared to all those other countries, so be it. "

Good to see even J- fanboys acknowledging the mess this " system " has become and the exploitation by some unscrupulous J- intermediaries.

Sure unfairness should be corrected and that's not just some unscrupulous J- intermediaries but also overseas their fellow brokers who soak those trainees with debt in advance. Sounds like Comfort women story doesn't it.

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It is journalistic malpractice to fail to mention anything about the perpetrators of the aforementioned crimes.

Human trafficking and human rights abuses are abysmal in japan.

And to think that this is a high-profile case. Just think of all the daily abuses non-japanese go through each and every day by their japanese overseers.

This society is not healthy.

Elites? Lol, funny, elite professionals choose US, Europe, Canada, Australia, Dubai,HK and anywhere else before Japan that pays 1/3 or less of a salary than other places. And let's not even get into other benefits such as friendly English speaking environment, easy path to permanency / citizenship for the professionals and their families if they so desire and the rest of it. Next to no high skill professional is interested in Japan anymore. Japan may still be attractive for the low paid farm/ factory blue collar labour from SE Asia but even that appeal is fading as other countries pay more and are more welcoming. Only right wing fanboys keep delluding themselves about how desirable Japan is as a work place. The failure of the touted govt program to attract high skill professionals here is a testament to that.

So you ain't ... Ooops

I meant elite trainees not elite professionals. That is what the article is about. Professional needs no training don't they.