I really regret coming to Japan. I won’t recommend that my friends come here to suffer.

Shame on Japan for these heinous abuses.

The company's name is Takara Seni, a textile-maker in Kagawa Prefecture.

Shame on Japan for these heinous abuses.

Well, it's not Japan that perpetuated the abuse, it's a private company. But shame on Japan for creating a system that allows for abuses like this to be perpetuated.

Tang ... gained employment permits as part of a government program to train people from developing nations with skills they could use back home. Instead, the plan became a way for some Japanese companies to circumvent the nation’s strict foreign-labor rules and gain a supply of cheap workers...

I find it ironic how differences in the approaches taken by Japan and the U.S. with respect to exploiting migrant labor mirror the differences with respect to prostitution during and after WWII.

Japan's approach with both migrant labor and the comfort woman is/was to organize government-led initiatives to exploit vulnerable people for the benefit of Japan's military and companies, first with the "Japanese military comfort women system" (従軍慰安婦制度) and now with the "foreign national training system" (外国人研修制度). Notice that they are both "systems/programs" (制度).

On the other hand, America's approach in both cases has been to make these practices illegal, but still implicitly allow them with a wink and a nod knowing that prostitutes working under exploitative conditions keep the troops happy, and that exploited illegal aliens enable agribusiness to get rich and keep supermarket prices lower. Keeping immigrant laborers illegal (while almost never punishing those who hire illegal immigrants) ensures that they will stay out of sight and out of mind, never complaining and with no recourse for injustices they must endure.

Both countries are devious when it comes to immigrant labor, but just use different underhanded tactics. Still, Japan shoots itself in the foot by always having to get the government to lead efforts ensuring that the exploitation is organized exploitation.

Here is a link to the full Bloomberg article about Tang Xili and Japan's foreign worker training program: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-22/japan-expands-foreign-worker-plan-u-s-cited-for-forced-labor

Strangerland it is Japan's fault. Why? Because Japan has archaic labor laws and labor laws it fails regularly to uphold and enforce. If Japan actively policed labor laws and passed more reasonable protections for both Japanese and foreign workers then problems like this would mostly go away. But these problems are systemic.

Even for Japanese the most common problem is extreme overwork for no pay despite the fact that this is entirely illegal. Yet how many people do you know who work upwards of 60 or more hours a week without additional pay?

Japan has a pathetic record protecting its own people's civil and human rights. Abe has taken this even farther in the wrong direction. Her treatment on discrimination, labor protections and equality for foreigners is equally abominable as Amnesty International pointed out this week.

So stop apologising for Japan. This country needs modern labor protections as well as immigrant protections if it is to survive into the future as a competitive destination for business and commerce in Asia. If it does not, the cost to the country as an economic player will be profound. For their own good Japan needs to address these issues seriously or be left behind as competing countries do so and offer a better destination for much needed labor.

Strangerland it is Japan's fault. Why? Because Japan has archaic labor laws and labor laws it fails regularly to uphold and enforce. If Japan actively policed labor laws and passed more reasonable protections for both Japanese and foreign workers then problems like this would mostly go away. But these problems are systemic.

You realize that this is exactly what I said, right:

Bshame on Japan for creating a system that allows for abuses like this to be perpetuated.

So stop apologising for Japan.

For that, I'd have to have started.

Shame on "some" Japanese employers. I have many Chinese neighbors where I live, and since my wife speaks Chinese, she hangs out with them too, most of them have purchased "mansions" and seems to be well off.

Notice how it's a foreign media service.

How would you say, I have a dream in Chinese?

Her dream turned into a nightmare.

hoping to earn enough in three years to build a new home for her daughter

Building a new home in three years? How is it possible?

@JeffLee

Thaks for the info. Maybe we'll see an update here on JT with more info on this company and this Chinese woman's case.

Building a new home in three years? How is it possible?

Homes are a lot cheaper in China. I know a Russian girl who bought a home in Russia after a year in Japan, as houses are cheaper there too.

Maybe we'll see an update here on JT with more info on this company and this Chinese woman's case.

Lets hope so as I'm willing to bet that NHK won't peep a word about it.

Shame on Japan for the abusive systems IT sets up, no doubt this is one of those companies providing...... ""TRAINING"" ..........or similar.

Japan really needs its ar$se kicked hard far far too many continually get screwed with obscene unfair & illegal labour practices & the govt does basically NOTHING!! Yeah a few go to court & after months or years get disgustingly LOW settlements.

Even if you win you LOSE BIG TIME!!!

And this affect Japanese the most & still the govt does squat!!! Its not even third world levels!

Shame on Japan for the abusive systems IT sets up

I doubt Japan deceived them as if they could bulid a home in three years on training visa. If that is the case I'm sure Chinese govt would step in.

Sad indeed. It really is a 21st century problem. Most countries do take advantage of their foreign labour and I keep hearing these type of stories. Not long ago 7-Eleven in Oz were also accused of ripping off their foreign workers, same with some migrant program agencies.

All governments are aware of this yet turn a blind eye, those migrants or students don't vote after all. Modern slavery all right.

Tina, she was hoping to make enough money to return to China and build a home. The woman is owed 3.5 million yen in backpay, and you have the audacity to criticize this woman?! Disgraceful.

Yes, Tina, perhaps the Chinese government SHOULD step in and stop this sickening practice.

She can recover her money by going to Small Claims Court 簡易裁判所. She does not need a lawyer to file a claim, although the company will need one, making it expensive for them.

gokai,

Come on you know that will never work, if it DID there would be 100's of thousands of Japanese lining up! The vast majority of people who get abused by companies are JAPANESE!

Tina, she was hoping to make enough money to return to China and build a home.

She was hoping too much for a trainee. So who promised her a home is the point.

The woman is owed 3.5 million yen in backpay, and you have the audacity to criticize this woman?! Disgraceful.

We don't know if she is telling the whole story because we haven't heard the employer's side. If she is telling the truth it is easy to get the money in Japan. You don't even have to go to court, just call Labor Inspection Office or the office in charge of the training program.

I was royally screwed by a shady Japanese employer as well. It ended up destroying my life to the point where any kind of recovery is probably impossible.

I can relate completely with her story. A lot of people think that these immigrants or workers are at fault for their own troubles, well, there is some truth to that. But if you have an ounce of impartiality left in you, just consider life in the shoes of someone who is coming from a horrific background of violence or poverty etc.

It is not that easy to get money from an employer if you became an illegal worker at some point. Many employers bring people to Japan legally and then through manipulation of payment or living conditions, basically force people to become illegal immigrants and thus gain absolute control over the individuals. There is absolutely no recourse for these people. The government slaps the company with a 1,000,000 yen fine and the issue is dropped. The lives of the workers are utterly and completely destroyed.

She was hoping too much for a trainee. So who promised her a home is the point.

Again, Tina, the point flies above your oblivious head. No one is saying she had been promised that. If you cared to look, this is a systemic problem in Japan. Stop trying to make Japan out to be perfect, its not.

We don't know if she is telling the whole story because we haven't heard the employer's side.

We know enough of the story to know that she was cheated out of hard earned money, now don't we- can't imagine someone moving to a labor-union camp without reason.

She can recover her money by going to Small Claims Court 簡易裁判所. She does not need a lawyer to file a claim, although the company will need one, making it expensive for them.

Yes, because it is really THAT easy, let's overlook the obvious language barrier present. Also, this isn't small court. 3.5 million in back pay is roughly 6 times small court' upper limits. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/MurUEJL/2004/15.html

That textile company should give her all those money she earned.

she was cheated out of hard earned money

I saw a video of a woman in her position who claimed many things such as she was not paid enough or that she was sexually harassed or that she was afraid of being deported. But why was she afraid of deportation if her job was so bad? And she and an American reporter ran when the employer called the police.

This training program is in place for some time now, and the govt intends to continue. How is it possible to continue if the employer and the govt both intend to cheat this woman just to save a few million yen?

I am sure the govt will help her if what she is telling is the truth. And China would stop sending its people if her story was true and the end of the problem.

Coming to Japan just for the money? It never quite works that way.....

And she and an American reporter ran when the employer called the police.

I suppose you have never thought about how scary it is to be a foreigner dealing with police? Especially if the person calling the police is a national of the country.

tinawatanabe: "I am sure the govt will help her if what she is telling is the truth. "

yeah, because obviously they're already so willingly helping the sub-contractors of the sub-contractors contracted out to the yakuza, right? All those Japanese suckered into promises of high pay for short work and instead walk out, if at all, owing more money than they came in after surviving harsh conditions and doing horrible and hazardous work. And the government does NOTHING about it, tina, and you know it! Oh, sure, they chide TEPCO, then TEPCO says they don't know who the subcontractors are hiring, then those companies hired by subcontractors say they are just following orders, and they continue to pass the blame around until it disappears, but that's not doing anything effective about it.

Face it, tina, Japan has an abysmal human rights record and is amongst the worst countries in the world when it comes to human and labor trafficking, and the government does nothing about it. They always have, they always will, and even though Japan is striving more than ever to be even MORE like China and North Korea in how the government runs things and allows them to be run, it IS still much cheaper to buy a house in China, particularly in the rural areas. Hence if the woman hunkered down, worked hard, and received a fare wage based on her work and what she was promised, she could do it.

I suppose you have never thought about how scary it is to be a foreigner dealing with police? Especially if the person calling the police is a national of the country.

I was never scary for police when I was in US or any other countries because done nothing wrong. But I know you would say Japan is different. Then my question is why do you stay in a country you can not trust?

Thank you Sensato for the Bloomberg heads up. There is absolutely no excuses for a society to tolerate this unwieldy dysfunctional employment system so unnecessarily complicated, almost guaranteed by design to be open to all manner of abuses.

Judicial guidance after a root and branch overhaul of the system, with a zero tolerance approach to miscreants. Make examples of these unprincipled rogues agencies and employers. Make them suffer harsh and punitive punishment. This is clearly not an isolated case.

Plenty of slave-labor jobs in China for you to choose from!

I was never scary for police when I was in US or any other countries because done nothing wrong. But I know you would say Japan is different. Then my question is why do you stay in a country you can not trust?

I did not say 'Japan' because I do not particularly think 'Japan is different' in this case. I did not say 'I do not trust Japan' either.

I think both you and I are in a different economic and social situation than someone who came over on these types of visas so we might be more willing and able to trust the police knowing we haven't broken any laws.

tinawatanabe: "I was never scary for police when I was in US or any other countries because done nothing wrong."

The US is not Japan, tina. You have more rights there than foreigners do here, and are less likely to be dealt with differently if even recognized as a foreigner. And if you WERE dealt with poorly there would be hell to pay. In Japan you would have zero rights, and the police would hold you until you confessed to doing something you did not. Plain and simple. That said, it depends entirely on the officers who for whatever reason stopped you and/or took you in. Most I've met here are quite kind, but on the one occasion where I had a problem (my friend's bike was stolen) instead of trying to help they started asking me where I got MY bike from and prepared to write me up for not having it registered because they were in a bad mood, or didn't want to do the work, etc.

"But I know you would say Japan is different."

Ah, so you're saying they are the same, then.

"Then my question is why do you stay in a country you can not trust?"

The old, "if you don't like it, leave" lack of retort. Digging the bottom of the barrel again, eh, tina?

I had a problem (my friend's bike was stolen) instead of trying to help they started asking me where I got MY bike from

That is their job. When I reported my stolen bike I was told to bring the manual.

prepared to write me up for not having it registered

nothing wrong to write a truth. It is not illegal not registerd don't worry. You make a big fuss over nothing when it comes to anything Japan.

This lady is being housed at the expense of the Japanese tax payer. Why the majority of posters take her word for her unfair treatment I am not sure.

A friend of mine was not paid a completion bonus by a conversation school. He took his employer to court. It transpired that he had been late to several lessons, and after warnings was eventually fired. The plaintiff (who happened to be a gaijin, but fluent in Japanese) explained that he felt a responsibility to his ex-employee to teach him that he could not carry on behaving irresponsibly in that way. That part may have been bs, but together with the repeated warnings, and my friends admission that yes he had been late on several occasions, lead to the judge rejecting my friends claim. I went to the courtroom and thought the verdict fair.too. This lady just says her side of the story and it must be true because 'Japan has abysmal human rights.'

Japan is the nicest place to live and work in the world in my view. The Japanese do have a euphemistic way with words though. Trainees are not really trainees, but the trainees know that.

"Japan is the nicest place to live and work in the world in my view. The Japanese do have a euphemistic way with words though."

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

The title of the article is: "I REALLY REGRET COMING to Japan. I won’t recommend that my friends come HERE TO SUFFER"

Tang Xili, 35, who came from China to Japan in 2013, hoping to earn enough in three years to build a new home for her daughter.

Alas! When I first came here, I saw it too. Poor chinese, filipinos, vietnamese etc. trying to make it in Japan. In America, they're not poor. In fact, they're middle class or higher. Especially the chinese. They live-it-up in southern CA.

Well, it's not Japan that perpetuated the abuse, it's a private company.

Yes, it is Japan which as perpetuated the abuse, because this is a byproduct of the myriad rules and regulations which make it extremely difficult and expensive to hire full-time workers. In the name of trying to protect everybody, we end up with a topsy-turvy system which protects fewer and fewer, and gives rise to dispatch agencies and shadier types who exploit loopholes, or simply thumb their noses at the law altogether.

The Japanese do have a euphemistic way with words though. Trainees are not really trainees, but the trainees know that.

Treainee is not an euphemism. These people have no skill or working visa so trainees.

If you are also refering to "Comfort women", it is a direct translation from Ianfu, meaning prostitues (Shofu) but from kindness they used "Ianfu" instead of Shofu. It is not a euphemism.

This lady is being housed at the expense of the Japanese tax payer. Why the majority of posters take her word for her unfair treatment I am not sure.

What has the first sentence got to do with the second? She is accusing her employer of mistreating her. What kind of nasty country wouldn't provide housing for someone in her situation. You really can't understand why the average poster sides with her? You can't? After seeing all the articles about how JAPANESE workers are mistreated, cheated out of overtime pay, and in some cases worked to death, you cannot understand why I am not skeptical of her claim? So, let me get this straight, the same business 'magnates' who would screw over their own 'kind' to make a profit, wouldn't try to do the same thing to some poor, foreign lady?

A friend of mine was not paid a completion bonus by a conversation school. He took his employer to court. It transpired that he had been late to several lessons, and after warnings was eventually fired. The plaintiff (who happened to be a gaijin, but fluent in Japanese) explained that he felt a responsibility to his ex-employee to teach him that he could not carry on behaving irresponsibly in that way.

Thank you for pointing out how your friend ignored numerous warnings and rightfully lost his completion bonus. What has that got to do with this 'trainee?'

That part may have been bs, but together with the repeated warnings,

Well, if you were aiming to somehow prove the fairness of the Japanese court system, you probably shouldn't have highlighted the BS spun by your friend's employer.

Trainees are not really trainees, but the trainees know that

Oh, is that so, now? Based on what? Funny how you are trying to on the one hand say we shouldn't take her word at face value, while you at the same time try and explain what this lady did know, which of course you cannot possibly know.