Vietnamese trainee in Japan demands apology for 2 years of abuse

I can imagine the terror he must have felt going to work each day. Once one worker starts the abuse, verbal then physical the rest join in as it becomes a group activity all Japanese must join.

I want to see them in jail. But we all know nothing will happen to those bullies. Maybe half a bow for 10 seconds and let's go to work.

Just saw this on the morning news - straight out physical assault - beaten on the body and head with a broom stick, repeatedly kicked and punched. Thankfully one of his colleagues was filming the incidents secretly it seems.

Good luck to him. Hope he gets plenty of money. The calibre of men who work in construction in Japan is not exactly high class, it must be said.

Bullying is as normal and accepted in Japan as adding wasabi to your sushi.

Absolutely crazy!

But why did this man stay in his job for 2 years?

He got abused for 2 years and continued to go there?

he said he had kept silent because he did not want to cause trouble for his family or other technical trainees.

In my opinion it is oppsite.

Maybe other trainees have the same problem, so he can help to stop that earlier.

And additional, a union exists.

In my opinion, he should reported that immediately after it happened for the first time.

There is a lot of rough ones working at construction companies. Some even part of organized crime organizations. Maybe of them just use those temporarily jobs as a cover.

Makes one wonder why people decide to come to a country where they are treated as second-rate not-quite-humans... Are things so desperate for them back at home?

Notice USA, the west and NED aren't interested in these abuses in Japan. Probably because Japan isn't competition to USA.

This is the type of people that Japan has circumvented the ongoing travel ban to import.

Notice USA, the west and NED aren't interested in these abuses in Japan. Probably because Japan isn't competition to USA.

Because Japan is the most loyal client state of the US.

A technical trainee aged 41? They can’t even get younger people into the program not that I’m advocating anybody to join this perversion of a training system. But when 41 year olds are imported and even they are violently abused. There is something wrong with both the system and defiantly the work places they are put into.

The term “technical internship” is a modern euphemism for slave labor used by companies wanting to cut costs in a deflationary economy. Maybe Vietnamese should stay home and work to make their country a better place.

in the process of negotiating a settlement

and

hope he gets plenty of money

why is it just about money?! Shouldn’t it be about pressing charges against individuals for physical assault, charges against the company for providing an environment for that assault and most likely exploitation of trainees?!

why does throwing money at a problem or issue seem to be the first and often only reaction?!

Absolutely disgusting,and Kishida wants to open a department of human rights?

Japan has deep routes in racism and xenophobia.

Such cancers can be reduced with a deep reform in the educational system same as gender gap.

But we know nothing will change here.

I’m sorry for that man who was abused and ripped by his dignity of human being.

Absolutely disgusting.

Full support to the Vietnamese man!

Asian solidarity.

Get in a long line: Korea, China, Vietnam, The Philippines , America, Okinawa, Russia, and a Vietnamese trainee are waiting for a real apology. Good luck.

As long as seeing the video footage, that was terrible violence by some Japanese employees, so this case would be in local court soon as the video is perfect evidence.

Japanese are obese with company loyalty. I come to work, clock on, sit down do up my boot laces then go make a coffee then start my work routine. This annoy Japanese workers in the crew who don’t understand my work ethic. And I don’t understand their work ethic. I am offen told if it wasn’t for my trouble shooting and problem solving skills I would get fired at most places. I reply, BS, if I didn’t have these skill it still wouldn’t change my work ethic anyway the boss can afford it. Don’t believe their poor mouthing. It all BS. If the boss hire useless workers that the bosses fault. In this case his co worker were annoy with his preformance and abuse the worker. Where I understand the boss has choose this new blokes because of the low hourly rate he can pay him and give him job he can not do. Like I will give him a broom and tell him just look busy and observe the routine of the other workers and how they preform. Look mate the boss will not fire you because he is committed to you. ( low wages)You are not committed to him. You can get this low wage anywhere in Japan.

Work is always also quite a physical burden, and if not the work itself then the crazy bullying colleagues make that rule of thumb complete. I wouldn’t even intonate that the victim is a foreign trainee, because most of similar cases happen amongst only Japanese, that also in number relation, as the attackers of course would know that if a foreigner as victim involved even much more focus from public would occur. And that’s what exactly is the case here, it came to light because he was a foreigner.

I love Okayama very much. People are nice, kind and I had many good memories during my visits though there's not many sightseeing places.

I am shocked to read this news on how those people treated this Vietnamese man!

The words iceberg and tip come to mind.

The fearless journalists at Kyodo have decided to kept the company's name secret.

@kwatt

this case would be in local court soon as the video is perfect evidence.

The article says the company is working on a settlement, which is normally a tactic to avoid criminal prosecution. I doubt anyone (Japanese) will be held criminally responsible or punished. The Japanese media won't even name the company.

Wasting your time sir.

it’s like talking to a brick wall here

A lot is missing from the story posted here

this was a two year long fight for him. he tried to get assistance through this and was rejected in the beginning

no one wanted to help him and he tried to get help

he stuck it out because he had a family to support back in Vietnam. Many of us have trouble imagining what it would like to be in a situation such as this.

don’t always assume that what is posted here is the full story.

I watched the video. These are exactly the types of thugs that aterrorize other drivers on a daily basis, tailgating, cutting people off, etc.

Besides just imagine what would happen to a vietnamese worker if got caught slapping a japanese coworker...would be paraded in cuffs on national news right now.

Lovely stuff. I guess these construction workers never got the memo on how to treat fellow humans, nor any semblance of empathy. Stright up thugs. Two years of bystanders just letting it happen too.

Drag them through the courts mate. Make them pay.

Japan would have to be one of the worst places to work if you are non-white or from another Asian nation.

Japan would have to be one of the worst places to work period. That's why they can't even recruit people from other 3rd world countries. They can't even fulfil their quotas for foreign workers. I mean, what does it say about your country when even downtrodden people from Southeast Asia don't want to come here.

The Nihonjinron doctrine remains in parts of Japan as remnants of the colonial era.

yep

as you see the company will give some money and deport the foreigner...

no jail, no fine, no penalty for the Japanese company

Saw this in the news this morning and the victims circumstances in coming here on "trainee visa" status is similar to other trainees.

He put up with it primarily because he was in debt in equivalent of 1,000,000yen in Vietnam just to come here and he has a family and a young child to support. He thought that being sent home and losing his job in Japan is not an option for him.

He suffered injuries during 2years of abuse and actually filed complaint but the company just ignored him.

He haven't filed complaint to the police until today and is working on settlement with his company but still wish to stay in Japan and work on a different company.

The man is desperate like many of the trainees that come here and are willing to put up with abuse because of their circumstances back to their home countries.

Disgraceful treatment of a foreign worker by tiny little thugs.

I hope he gets fully compensated for his terrible ordeal

Fighto!

The calibre of men who work in construction in Japan is not exactly high class, it must be said.

I'm sure that most of them are hardworking, skilled, and decent people. But, the industry does attract a certain segment of society for the freelance, unskilled, laborious day labor work (digging, hauling, demolition, etc.).

FWIW, whenever I see a maskless customer in a conbini, most of the times it's a construction worker. So, there does seem to be some rebel macho posing with some of them. Not so different from construction workers in any country, I imagine.

How about easing up on the Japanese work culture. You have a choice. Simply by going to the office and tell them. I want my flight back home as soon possibly period. One action will happen. Why the boss will ask. Because your company has a culture of racism which I won’t tolerate. So hurry with booking my flight home. This will get them moving on improving condition straight away. The big boss had to jump a lot of bureaucracy to land cheap labor also this cheap labour had already been pencil into the company’s future financial system. This will change the money rate with the bank that the company work with. The company concern will have explain to the government why your worker or workers are heading back home before the contract ends This could see them exclude from other government aid programs etc in the future. Once you put a fret on the Company projected margin the company will bend it knee to keep you and improve your condition. You don’t need a union you just need guts and confidence. People think without a boss there is no work. No wrong. Without worker there no business and no boss. The worker is always in a better place to negotiate because the company already as place itself into a project outcome and when this is fretted management bears the cost no the worker.

“Makes one wonder why people decide to come to a country where they are treated as second-rate not-quite-humans... Are things so desperate for them back at home?”

Oh yeah, if it were not desperate he, like many so-called trainees, would not have to be in the situation he was.

Just seen on youtube, jesus, sure this happens in other countries as well (just look how blacks are treated in the south of Italy harvetsing tomatoes....) but man man, this dude has to press charges big time against the whole company because this must not go unpunished. If I would have seen this I would have taken that broom and had a happy slapping of that axxhole myself! man I'm angry....

very dissappointing to read that not much as changed with how japan treats its migrant workers...

one possibility as to why he stuck with his job for so long is that he might have paid a broker to setup his application to Japan and all (in other words he's basically working to pay off his debt first then any income after is his for keep)

here is another article of how this great country treats vietnamese workers - this gentlemen was ordered to remove radioactive material around the Fukushima nuclear power plant with little to no protection... sickening!

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/15/683224099/as-japan-tries-out-immigration-migrant-workers-complain-of-exploitation

You have a choice. Simply by going to the office and tell them. I want my flight back home as soon possibly period.

May be plain and simple for you to do so. But for some others less fortunate than you it's not that easy.

There is a lot of rough ones working at construction companies. Some even part of organized crime organizations. Maybe of them just use those temporarily jobs as a cover.

It is not limited to construction companies, bullying is widespread in this country from private

companies to local and government offices. The moment you show any weakness you will be

bullied.

Why aren’t there articles on JT of foreigners prevailing against the system instead of being persecuted and bullied?

this is mix of slavery racism and low iq...of attackers.lets seehow situation will develop hope viet guy will get at least some money and new -better job somewhere else.

Did not have to pass too much time since the news were published to have commenters blaming the victim, everybody is susceptible to be abused, thinking one person is to blame for getting their ribs fractured only makes obvious how little empathy some people have and how much they ignore about this kind of abuse.

All these comments from persons who probably never worked a day of physical labor for a Japanese company in Japan. And, advice for the abused employee, in English, on a site that likely he nor the abusers/company never see or much less would even care to learn from.

Systematic slavery or indentured servitude? - Most of these workers are provided limited Japanese, just enough to function in their roles in the company. They are afraid to complain once here fearing repercussions and debt. Let’s not kid anyone, there is no continuing education nor will they be taking back any significant skills to the home countries.

- @Monty 7:L24am: “Absolutely crazy! But why did this man stay in his job for 2 years? He got abused for 2 years and continued to go there? 

[he said he had kept silent because he did not want to cause trouble for his family or other technical trainees.]

In my opinion it is oppsite. Maybe other trainees have the same problem, so he can help to stop that earlier. 

And additional, a union exists. In my opinion, he should reported that immediately after it happened for the first time.” -

kurisupisu

Why aren’t there articles on JT of foreigners prevailing against the system instead of being persecuted and bullied?

Because it's something that rarely, if ever, happens? Just a wild guess.

@Aly RustomToday  10:29 am JST

Japan would have to be one of the worst places to work if you are non-white or from another Asian nation.

Japan would have to be one of the worst places to work period. That's why they can't even recruit people from other 3rd world countries. They can't even fulfil their quotas for foreign workers. I mean, what does it say about your country when even downtrodden people from Southeast Asia don't want to come here.

The Nihonjinron doctrine remains in parts of Japan as remnants of the colonial era.

yep

So name top3 countries for those you define from "3rd world countries" to come and work officially and legally for types of guys 41 year-old but no- skills, whose case is now backed up by Japanese local labor union.

Don't even think Canada is the one.

The whole technical training program needs to go. It is just an excuse to put people into menial jobs paying them nothing or far less.

""The government-sponsored technical internship program was introduced in 1993 with the aim of transferring skills to developing countries, but has been criticized as being a cover for companies to import cheap labor from other Asian nations.""

Make NO MISTAKE about it, Imported labor is what we call Modern Days Slavery, there many being abused like this man daily and it is unreported for one and only one reason, it's called survival and making a living.

So why NOT publish the name of the company? may be they will improve their treatment!???

Make NO MISTAKE about it, Imported labor is what we call Modern Days Slavery, there many being abused like this man daily and it is unreported for one and only one reason, it's called survival and making a living.

If you want to see modern day slavery then take a holiday to Qatar!

We really should be seeing one of those scenes where a bunch of suites are coming out of this company with piles of cardboard boxes & we should be seeing paddy wagons being loaded up with Japanese staff being taken in to be interrogated by "prosecutors"

But alas above is very unlikely

Japan should be truly ashamed of itself for this ""trainee program"" FOR SHAME!

Another example of why Japan ranks as one of the leading human rights abusers in the world; not only do people come over on the promise of visas and good money opportunities and then are abused and often trapped in debt at the Hands of subcontracted yakuza based companies (which the government allows), but they are then just ignored by the authorities. This guy won’t get an apology, and won’t be compensated. At BEST the court will say, “We recognize some problems with the current system, but leave it to the companies to look into whom they subcontract to, the companies will say it is up to the subcontractors, the subcontractors will say they’ll look into it but aren’t sure whom they’ve hired (the yaks), and the government will shrug and say they’ve got a great intern(ment) program.

It is good that someone filmed this and put it out there. The best thing would be to name and shame the company and staff doing this. Not many people would want to have a contract with a company with negative press and treats people like dirt.

Notice USA, the west and NED aren't interested in these abuses in Japan. Probably because Japan isn't competition to USA.

If such a thing happened in China or Russia then the western countries will be boycotting China and place sanctions after sanctions! But since it’s Japan they do nothing by turning a blind eye! It’s all political as Japan is the golden goose for the US!

Wow!!!!!! No one should have to endure such beating while trying to earn a living. Everyone involved with the "GOVERNMENT SPONSORED Program" needs to be fired and pay this guy compensation. Video footage of the abuse shows the man being hit on the head and body with a broom while working on the back of a truck, as well as being accused of failing to respond well in Japanese and punched in the body.

@Pukey2 " Notice USA, the west and NED aren't interested in these abuses in Japan. Probably because Japan isn't competition to USA". This is not a USA problem it a JAPAN systematic problem. Bullying is a way of life, one has to endure it at school at work and even in "Mommy Groups"!!!

Bullying in school and the work place is a way of life in Japan. If this poor guy wins in court it will set a precedent for other cases to follow. My guess he will be compensated and the case will be thrown out of court because winning will change the bullying cultural way of life and it will open up many other cases for law suits which will have the courts over burdened!.

Makes one wonder why people decide to come to a country where they are treated as second-rate not-quite-humans... Are things so desperate for them back at home?

Um. what do you think? Just google "average salary Vietnam." It's less than san man a month.

 Notice USA, the west and NED aren't interested in these abuses in Japan. Probably because Japan isn't competition to USA". This is not a USA problem it a JAPAN systematic problem

The big difference is that bullying in Japan isn't a state policy and the security forces are not the ones doing the bullying. It is a societal problem that obtw happens to be shared to some degree in the US and all nations. And not incidentally there is recourse to the courts and even the possibility of criminal charges for what this employer and certain employees did. It is not a case of someone disappearing into a prison system for having the temerity to criticize the government or for being a member of the wrong religion. I don't know why some who post here say the things they do. The difference between the injustices that happen in Japan or the US are a vastly different from a state organized terror machine like one finds in Russia or China, or Vietnam for that matter. Criticize the Vietnamese government or insult Buddhism and see what happens to you in Vietnam. Good luck.

Why aren’t there articles on JT of foreigners prevailing against the system instead of being persecuted and bullied?

Out of curiosity, what is meant by "system".

Why didn't he go to the police? Probably because he has been told by others in a similar position that the police will do nothing, which is probably true.

Why didn't he go to the police?

Consider the victim came from a Communist police state. He was and maybe remains deathly afraid of the police. My wife is from a communist country, China. When I was planning to contest a traffic ticket she was mortified. She was certain that challenging a ticket would get me thrown in jail for an unknown time. She begged me not to. Fast forward a good ten yeas and my wife fought her own ticket in court. It takes time to overcome fears instilled over a lifetime growing up and living in a police state like Vietnam.

Oh Poor guy, kawaiso hope he can find a better job and a better ppl.

So name top3 countries for those you define from "3rd world countries" to come and work officially and legally for types of guys 41 year-old but no- skills, whose case is now backed up by Japanese local labor union.

Yeah a fat lot of good that Japanese local labor union does for that Vietnamese man or for the COUNTLESS other foreigners working here.

Aly RustomToday  07:58 am JST

*So name top3 countries for those you define from "3rd world countries" to come and work officially and legally for types of guys 41 year-old but no- skills, whose case is now backed up by Japanese local labor union.*

Yeah a fat lot of good that Japanese local labor union does for that Vietnamese man or for the COUNTLESS other foreigners working here.

There’s　a Vietnam cafe not so far from Sin-Okubo station (used to be Korean Town, now more like Asian Town) called "Egg Coffee". The owner is a Vietnamese and more than 70% customers are Vietnamese. When you have a chance, go there and ask how they like their lives in Japan. Media do not pick up any good stories.

Google "egg coffee" ... when, needed + 新宿、or 新大久保

There are some Japanese that cannot apologize for their bad treatment to foreigners. Please get these Japanese to apologize.

There’s　a Vietnam cafe not so far from Sin-Okubo station (used to be Korean Town, now more like Asian Town) called "Egg Coffee". The owner is a Vietnamese and more than 70% customers are Vietnamese. When you have a chance, go there and ask how they like their lives in Japan. Media do not pick up any good stories.

OF COURSE!! Like YOU said

He/ She doesn't work for you Japanese. Thanks for proving my point! LOL

AND like you said..

The owner is a Vietnamese and more than 70% customers are Vietnamese. 

So looks like the person owns their own business and Deals 70% with their own people. So yes. OF COURSE they like their life here. I would too if I owned my own business and dealt with you lot only 30% of the time

AND like you said..

The owner is a Vietnamese and more than 70% customers are Vietnamese. 

So looks like the person owns their own business and Deals 70% with their own people. So yes. OF COURSE they like their life here. I would too if I owned my own business and dealt with you lot only 30% of the time

It is not a Vietnamese owner, I meant Vietnamese customers who gather at the cafe , only if you are interested in asking

@p

Oh, yes. The “their lives are so much better here so we can treat them like trash” excuse. How about just treating everyone like a human being? Is that really too much to ask?

Perhaps you may as well check the place and ask if they think being treated like trash.

Japanese racism would be funny if it weren’t racism given Japanese people are 71% Han Chinese.

Completely off

It is not a Vietnamese owner, I meant Vietnamese customers who gather at the cafe , only if you are interested in asking

YOU said it was a Vietnamese owner. Here's YOUR POST

There’s　a Vietnam cafe not so far from Sin-Okubo station (used to be Korean Town, now more like Asian Town) called "Egg Coffee". The owner is a Vietnamese and more than 70% customers are Vietnamese.

Oh, yes. The “their lives are so much better here so we can treat them like trash” excuse. How about just treating everyone like a human being? Is that really too much to ask?

Apparently it is of some people here.