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© KYODOOver 60% of Ukrainian evacuees in Japan unemployed: survey
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Strangerland
Most, if not all, city/ward halls in Japan provide free or affordable (think 300-500 yen/hour) language lessons. Japan is interested in having people speak Japanese.
Well, not useless, they can still do menial labor that the native population isn't interested in doing. But, residents who are able to participate in society is best for all, which is why most city halls provide language lessons.
Matt
Does the state provide language lessons for such people? If not then perhaps that would be a start instead of just accepting a small number of refugees so one day people can say "we did our bit". Pathetic as usual from the government. The xenophobia in these comment sections is incredible too.
I can't wait for the day when Japan is crying out for foreign workers and people turn around and say "uh no thanks. We'd rather work and help people who appreciate it". Stop holding onto your nationalism like a baby in a pram. That era is over. Move on and become a part of the global community.
Strangerland
No, that's not true. Visa holders and residents are more than guests.
toolonggone
Do tourists not belong in Japan? Do people here on business not belong in Japan? Do athletes in competitions not belong in Japan? Do those granted refugee status by the government not belong in Japan? Do those granted “designated activities" visas by the Japanese government not belong in Japan?
Alan Harrison
Well at least a few like certain hardline Ukrainian YouTubers are here because their business (YouTube channel) would violate most EU laws, Canadian laws, because they for year they use inflammatory comments on other ethnic groups like Poles Romani Russians Hungarians etc.. and use banned symbols.
Commenter needs to take the matter up with Japans Ministry of Justice.
BreakingNews
Yes, I do. Since they cant find a job. As for Japanese recent grads, Japanese companies are lining up to hire them, so they must have the skills that are in demand. As for language, except for English what other skills do foreigners have?
WA4TKG
Did anyone offer them JOBS ?!
Jonathan Prin
Most Ukrainian evacuees are families !
That article is totally biased and wants to present Ukrainians as lazy or as a liability.
Lacking details on purposes like how many hours of free lessons of Japanese are they given per week.
This is a bullying article to people having their husbands and fathers dying to save their country undergoing invasion for no reason.
I shall remind Japan was one of the few countries still officially not in peace terms with Russia long time after WWII.
Antiquesaving
Well at least a few like certain hardline Ukrainian YouTubers are here because their business (YouTube channel) would violate most EU laws, Canadian laws, because they for year they use inflammatory comments on other ethnic groups like Poles Romani Russians Hungarians etc.. and use banned symbols.
So remaining in Poland Germany, most EU means stopping their business.
Antiquesaving
Don't know many Vietnamese do you?
The Japanese government has been trying to force many including those born in Japan to "return" to Vietnam as they now consider it safe!
And actually the path to PR for refugees is very rare and very difficult!
Alan Harrison
Why are the evacuees even in Japan..??..?? They do not belong in Japan.
Commenter needs to take the matter up with Japan's Foriegn Minister who initially brought them to Japan.
Antiquesaving
No Japanese skills are one thing but other than the one year contract ALT or language school teacher positions and some part time work with their renewal being very much unsure getting work is going to be a challenge even with Japanese language ability.
So think about it, they arrive get one year visa, but they first need to find a permanent place to stay, get at least a phone get residency procedures done, etc.. that will take a very minimum 1 month.
So know all 1 year employment deals are off the table as they don't even have a year left on the Visa.
Now, not a work visa, not a spouse Visa, not even a working holiday visa all can be extended or renewed under normal conditions.
No their visas are all conditional war is still going on and the Japanese government determines they cannot return safely.
So who is going to hire under such uncertain conditions?
Stratman
Maybe they should teach Ukrainian. I’d like to learn it.
Franz Pichler
Bariquee1888, they’re not evacuees but refugees from a country at war.
Nemo
It's good that Japan is finally stepping up. I wish that it did more and did it earlier.
I'm glad that they are not getting shelled by a sociopath for a bs lie.
But the government should do a little more to help these people be more able to function in society for however long they are here.
They don't want to be a drag. They want to contribute.
With a bit of help they can.
Yrral
Most people have Alphabet in their which are be universal in most of language,26 characters
Yrral
When I win the lottery,I will not be moving to Japan, maybe the Bahamas
JeffLee
@Zoroto
I'm trying to reconcile that assertion with the repeated images of Russian soldiers carrying flush toilets looted from Ukrainian homes.
suomitheway
There are plenty of jobs available in Niseko and Zao and the tourism industry in general that cater to foreigners and don't require Japanese language abilities.
thelonius
Immigrants and refugees face similar problems wherever they go. I just hope Japan can learn from this to improve things. Instead, I expect Japanese people will see this news as a reason NOT to let people in.
Mr Kipling
Able bodied men between the age of 18 and 60 were forbidden to leave the country and are forced to join the military whether they want to or not.
Sven Asai
Omg, they are refugees, fleeing from a deadly war, not your new cheap exploitation objects!
obladi
Something to keep in mind is that tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have died in the war over the last year. Tragic circumstances require compassion and, yes, sacrifice from fellow humans. Let's help these innocent survivors in any way that we can.
GarlicJoe
Do you really think those people have remarkably fewer skills than Japanese recent grads, except Japanese language?
tora
Does this include children and stay at home mothers as well? Stay at home mothers are counted as unemployed in Japan.
BreakingNews
about 2000. So about 1200 dont have jobs.
BreakingNews
or have any marketable skills.
stormcrow
Inject them into the Japanese workforce. Get 2 birds with 1 stone.
Mark
Like many of us, Japan is a good place to move to for as long as you can read and write the language, one of the toughest hurdles when moving to any place is communication and the ability to adjust .
Comes spring I am sure many will return to Europe or even Ukraine where they can communicate and be closer to HOME.
obladi
First of all, it's the first time I heard that Japan accepted over 2,000 evacuees from the Ukraine. I thought the numbers were more like 20. If these people want to stay then obviously they need help learning a new language and culture. I hope Japan welcomes them, because, in case you forgot, Japan is shrinking....
JeffLee
I recommend the non-Western, Mideast based Al Jazera, (which reports on Ukraine basically in the way as the BBC)
Maybe because the Russians destroyed their homes and communities, and they don't want to die a violent death?
Story makes no mention of public assistance, rather that they are actively seeking work so as to contribute to their host society. The meager assistance that is mentioned comes from a non-governmental organization.
Peter14
The fact that 39.1 percent have jobs when only 17.3 percent have conversational level Japanese language skills, shows they are trying hard, and that some Japanese employers are doing their part to help these hard up refugees from an ongoing war.
Japanese is not an easy language to master and writing and reading kanji is daunting to say the least to those unable to comprehend it. Children will learn faster than adults.
noriahojanen
What is it all about in other host countries like Poland (where more than a million evacuees resettle). I'm just curious.
TokyoLiving
Japan is not for everyone..
Not even for refugees, the culture shock for a refugee is much greater..
Europe is much closer and easier for them..
Big fact..
GenHXZ
60% of how many people? Meaningless without knowing this.
GarlicJoe
Because the Japanese government invited/ brought them here to send a signal to the word how open and caring Japan is for foreigners
Mr Kipling
When in Ukraine in 2018 almost everyone I met wanted to leave. Of the thousands in the UK, Germany and Poland, I wonder how many will actually return? 20%? 30% maybe?
toolonggone
Why not? Who does?
Rodney
No proper job, even though they seem to jump the line with visas, benefits, healthcare etc...send them to Poland or the other right wing Baltic States.
Fighto!
Despicable.
Have you considered that Japan wishes to provide a safe haven for these vulnerable people? Fascist Russia is daily and nightly bombing civilian areas - killing tens of thousands of innocent Ukrainians. Good on Japan and all other Ukraine friendly nations for giving them a safe home for as long as possible.
They belong in Japan as much as anyone.
kurisupisu
And the ones that have them are making bentos.
baroque1888
Why are the evacuees even in Japan..??..?? They do not belong in Japan.