Reality of Migrant Workers in Japan: Racism, Abusive Work Conditions, Labor Rights Violations
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Sources:
https://youtu.be/kc6jzKrlK2Y?si=kYUwdrXYU9WqItfX
https://www.jitco.or.jp/en/regulation/
https://dsg.or.jp/column/working/10795/
https://jfbfe.or.jp/column/employment/trends-in-the-number-of-technical-intern-trainees/
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASQ686QN1Q68PPZB015.html
https://www.sankei.com/article/20241224-7JEBATLJMVIV7K3S5K644V7YEQ/
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20241216/k10014669341000.html
https://imm.or.jp/cms/jp_news/20240704notice1/
This documentary exposes the hidden struggles of Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian migrant workers in Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program. Originally designed to transfer skills to developing countries, the program has become widely associated with abuse, exploitation, and human rights violations.
Through shocking footage and first-hand accounts, the video reveals how migrant workers face physical violence, sexual assault, underpayment, and inhumane working conditions. Many workers cannot escape abusive employers due to strict visa restrictions that prevent them from changing jobs. Others “disappear” from the program, often lured into illegal labor by unethical brokers, or simply fleeing abuse.
Experts and labor union representatives describe the program as a modern form of slavery, where workers are stripped of basic rights such as family reunification and job mobility. Testimonies highlight cases of broken bones, withheld wages, and sexual violence, underscoring the vulnerability of those who come from poor backgrounds with little Japanese language ability.
Despite these harsh realities, migrant labor has become essential to Japan’s economy. Farms, construction sites, and factories rely heavily on foreign workers to fill labor shortages caused by Japan’s aging population. Employers themselves admit that without migrants, many industries would collapse.
The documentary also contrasts Japan’s treatment of blue-collar technical interns with that of highly skilled white-collar immigrants, who enjoy privileges such as fast-tracked residency and the ability to bring family and even personal staff. This stark divide shows how immigration status in Japan can mean the difference between opportunity and exploitation.
With over 200,000 Vietnamese workers currently in the program, the stakes are high. While Japan has announced plans to replace the system by 2030 with one that allows greater job mobility, the question remains: can Japan truly protect the rights of migrant workers in industries where abuse and violence are already normalized?
This documentary seeks to raise awareness of the human cost of Japan’s labor shortage, and the urgent need for reform to ensure dignity, safety, and fairness for all workers.
#documentary #news #japan #japannews #japaneseculture
21 Comments
I want people who deny Japan’s war crimes against neighboring countries to look at how Japanese treat them now. You think they wouldn’t have done worse back then?
Much of the labor "shortage" is the result of bad management/policies, greed, and laziness.
"We have a severe labor shortage. We don't know why no one wants to do hard, physical labor for minimum wage. No, we will not raise wages. No, we not improve working conditions. Yes, we will continue our culture of physical abuse. I know we'll import foreign modern slave labor under the guise of a 'training' program. What could go wrong?"
Vietnamese workers are like one of the most productive communities abroad…
Glad that there are Japanese labour and civic organisations helping and even rescuing abused foreign workers.
If you are a woman working in a white-collar job, you have to deal with the existing gender and age discrimination in Japanese society; if you come from another Asian country, you have to face racial discrimination.
the o so nice japanese culture ..
For Vietnamese people, this system of Japan could be seen cruel but the Vietnamese Government and its institution like the Embassy is absolutely heartless. It’s known that the commission fee for blue collar workers to get to Japan is 4 to 5 times higher than other SEA countries. Thus these workers often have to get into a huge debt to pay. The recruiting agencies in VietNam also take part in as scammer who often painting a beautiful picture of signing the contract and going to Japan. I’ve seen videos of VietNamese workers doing interview to get the job in VietNam, they wear a white board hanging on their neck with participant numbers, just like a scene from a slave movie waiting to be picked by the owner.
Glad to see you finally addressing this problem.
When I see foreigners behaving badly in Japan, I know there is usually a backstory e.g. they were fleeced by yakuza or abused by employers etc.
Bad government and recruitment style and company,, pls stop it……..
This happening will be report to police government and immigration
I saw a lot of vietnamise worker
Are fleeing to temple care…….
There's a lot of ssw visa holder are experiencing this due to una ble to communicate well, and many japanese school also giving this certificate even if they don't really know how to speak and understand japanese …..
wow, the treatment is horrible
No wonder why young people leave thier elderly parents to die alone and rot, these old people still carry the colonial mindset of what they did in nanjing, china.
TITP is nothing but an excuse to do modern day slavery.
Bullshit!
Correct me if Im wrong, This violation often happens only in Construction and Agriculture company isnt it ?
as I remember Food Manufacture, Food Service, Accomodation Service seems to be more… polite necessary due to their duties is often facing Various Costumers, and food manufacture is just a same boring repeat daily labor so abusing or rage attack has lower chance to occured.
this remind me about how Evil Unit 731 in ww2 when they not consider human as a human anymore, they became demon.
I see small amount of this mindset in those black company employees.
as someone who aiming to live permanently in Japan, I am quiet concern about this issues.
I know this video is specific to Japan, but this situation regarding migrant workers is common across the Asia-Pacific. Raise awareness!
im glad that i hesitated to apply for this program
They treat their own workers terribly as it is so it’s no surprise that they subject these migrant workers to such horrific abuses. The whole program was designed to bring in workers for a limited time and then have them sent back home – partially solving the labor shortage while at the same time not increasing long term immigration. What they didn’t account for (or probably didn’t care about) was the welfare of the migrant workers. It’s sad to see people treated like this.
This is the Japanese real side. When nobody is watching, they do things like this. When I tell the dark hidden side of Japan, people accuse me of being a "hater". But this is just one side that foreigners don't see. There's a lot you don’t know and it's quite ugly. Japan is so good at hiding its ugly side.
Bad idea to create these visa types in the first place
jew media …BS stories… sub humans go back home !!!
Japan is doomed if it doesn’t adapt its immigration policies:
No prejudice (people are not the same as their government)
Easier access for educated, qualified labor — not just low-wage, exploitative labor
Normalizing fair working-visa renewal practices
No preferential treatment for certain countries (yes, we see which and how)