July 29, 2016
The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) on July 28 in a press conference held in Tokyo presented examples of “slavery-like” working conditions of foreign trainees and demanded that the foreign trainee program be revised to avoid human rights abuses against them.
Representatives of Zenroren’s local organizations which have been working to protect foreign trainees from illegal labor practices also attended the press conference.
Aichi Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions head Kurematsu Saichi reported on the illegal use of foreign trainees in Gifu Prefecture. In Gifu, 3,000 foreign trainees are employed in the garment industry, the prefecture’s major industry. Kurematsu explained that these trainees are working at an hourly wage of 500 yen, 254 yen lower than the prefecture’s minimum wage. He also pointed out that while they are forced to work 150 hours of overtime a month, their overtime is paid at a rate lower than the rate which is set forth in labor laws.
Moriguchi Hideaki of the Tokushima Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions introduced a case where a small factory owner suddenly closed his business to avoid a court battle over unpaid wages for foreign trainees.
Referring to a bill to revise the foreign trainee program on which discussion continues in the Diet, Zenroren executive Ito Keiichi criticized the bill for lacking measures to eliminate the illegal use of foreign trainees and eradicate violations of their human rights. He said that the government should replace the pending bill with a more effective one.
Past related articles:
> Illegal labor practices and human rights abuses against foreign trainees unacceptable: JCP Hatano [April 7, 2016]
> 80% of employers using foreign trainees violate labor laws [October 2, 2015]
> Abe’s attempt to increase use of foreign trainees will lead to further deterioration of their human rights [May 25, 2014]
Representatives of Zenroren’s local organizations which have been working to protect foreign trainees from illegal labor practices also attended the press conference.
Aichi Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions head Kurematsu Saichi reported on the illegal use of foreign trainees in Gifu Prefecture. In Gifu, 3,000 foreign trainees are employed in the garment industry, the prefecture’s major industry. Kurematsu explained that these trainees are working at an hourly wage of 500 yen, 254 yen lower than the prefecture’s minimum wage. He also pointed out that while they are forced to work 150 hours of overtime a month, their overtime is paid at a rate lower than the rate which is set forth in labor laws.
Moriguchi Hideaki of the Tokushima Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions introduced a case where a small factory owner suddenly closed his business to avoid a court battle over unpaid wages for foreign trainees.
Referring to a bill to revise the foreign trainee program on which discussion continues in the Diet, Zenroren executive Ito Keiichi criticized the bill for lacking measures to eliminate the illegal use of foreign trainees and eradicate violations of their human rights. He said that the government should replace the pending bill with a more effective one.
Past related articles:
> Illegal labor practices and human rights abuses against foreign trainees unacceptable: JCP Hatano [April 7, 2016]
> 80% of employers using foreign trainees violate labor laws [October 2, 2015]
> Abe’s attempt to increase use of foreign trainees will lead to further deterioration of their human rights [May 25, 2014]
