34 foreign trainees in Japan died in FY 2008 of suspected overwork

Tuesday 23rd June, 05:23 AM JST

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torsoaho at 04:39 PM JST - 23rd June

"Shoichi Ibusuki, a lawyer supporting foreign trainees and interns, pointed out that many trainees have been forced to work long hours for lower wages and said he suspects they had died from overwork."

This is flat out criminal ! Where is the international outrage ? Why isn't Japan eing paraded across the front pages of Time or Newsweek as nations actively involved in slave labor, especially now when the Oama administration is considering apologizing for slavery decades ago. Wow, Japan needs some serious soul searching, imagine that, coming to Japan to better your lot in the world only to e worked to death like a common slave... unforgiveable !
nadavaloryo at 04:56 PM JST - 23rd June

mostly trainees work more than 8 hours a day but recieves just 60000 yen a month,and they lived in a room overcrowded.3 or 4 person a room,but that room is only for 1 person...but not all employer,,jp must do something about this...arigato
Ari94 at 06:59 PM JST - 23rd June

Northlondon, I agree with you that we should not believe what we see in media, what I am talking about is "We help foreing workers in Japan" and the link I had given you is for the answer to your question.

The death is not only result of overwork, there are a lot of factors involved, such as long hour, housing, food and the main cause is stress. These dead workers are mostly young therefore to assume that they already had some physical problem is hard to believe.
UdaMan at 07:44 PM JST - 23rd June

realist: as compared to where? La-la Land? Sure, Japan has its share of problems, but come on, "a desperately sick society"? Having lived in a number of countries around the world, Japan seems to hold up pretty well for standard of living. I didn't think London was such a paradise, myself...
JasUK at 10:53 PM JST - 23rd June

7~8 hours per day is enough, why do Japanese employees need to sit around waiting their bosses to go home first, go home get some sleep and family time!! so you don't fall asleep during meetings during the day, yes you know who you are...
Monoflow at 11:48 PM JST - 23rd June

I would easily get 10 to 12 hours a day, if I would work the same way, like japanese do. But I prefer the 7 to 8 real hours of effectively work and then leave the office... Remember: Work to live and not live to work...
escape_artist at 12:32 AM JST - 24th June

The whole issue of exploitation of foreign workers in Japan under the guise of the govt-industry's so-called "training" or guest worker programs is explored in the film Sour Strawberries. Well worth watching even if it does only scratch the surface of the problem. Some links about it...

http://www.vimeo.com/2276295

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090414ev.html

http://www.debito.org/?page_id=1672

http://www.debito.org/SOURSTRAWBERRIESpromo.pdf
seesaw at 01:13 AM JST - 24th June

Are there foreign trainees in the entertainment and the health sectors? If yes, then what is the situation with their health status? Isn't there anyone who will fight for these people and relieve them from this slum-like life in the first world? Especially for foreign women workers, this country cannot offer a rosy job (except in the teaching sector), and they all end up in the one famous entertainment industry.

womanforwomen: you're missing my point. I was referring to your statement that this country cannot offer a rosy job (except in teaching). Don't you know that there are many foreign women executives in this country too?...not necessarily limited to English teachers. Perhaps you should consider a wider social circle. I have friends from all walks of life here in Japan, and certainly have had associated myself with people in the entertainment line.

They are not from my country but it is heartbreaking to see them suffer

I don't base my friendship on the person's citizenship. There're women from my country who came to work in the entertainment world as well. But it doesnt mean that they are poor, they just want to have fun for a few months and go home for a real life. They may suffer for a few months...but oh well, it's an experience.
sf2k at 08:25 AM JST - 25th June

Document the meeting with the labour relations board. Get the statement showing that this are no rights from whatever board or court, or have video showing that you cannot get help.

Then put it up on Youtube to use it against the program in the home country to force change. Collect signatures and lists of jobs and their differences. Fight back.

Don't use teachers in Japan as examples. Teachers are lemmings. Don't vote, don't take notes, don't complain. It's amazing the poor working conditions in schools have lasted so many decades. Make a Teachers' Union already.

For these 'trainees' then: Step 1. Get arrested: if this is a gov't training program and the trainees were invited to Japan, argue to sue for international fraud and imbezzlement of wages. This will be denied or tossed out of court because they are not Japanese. That's okay, go all the way so that a decision is made. This will be used against them. If no proceeding is made, quietly sit in on the office until the police arrive. Ask for help and your rights under the UN charter that Japan has (apparently) signed. Ask them to talk to the minister responsible for foreign trainee program about your rights. A police report will be made. Make a stink. Video your situation.

Step 2. Get media attention. Show their home country that their concerns are not attended to, note their issues with their home country to immediately stop sending workers to Japan. Ask for a minister response from the home country.

Showing light unto the situation is the only way these sleazy companies can be held to account.

Then, gasp, rights may improve in Japan. Will this happen? No. Teachers are too lazy, and migrant workers don't have the resources to fight back. Of course the Japanese media just say shou ga nai too.

But try documenting the situation, and putting it up on Youtube. That this is allowed in Japan is a sad commentary on human rights. The UN Charter must be accepted. If not, sue.
sf2k at 08:28 AM JST - 25th June

I think as well a group of 5 people, with a nice written request for help to fight for their wages and discrimination having a sit-in a the labour office, with media invited, might actually do something. Westerners have never protested in their lives, and had rights their whole lives. Chinese migrant workers take far more guff than is acceptable.

Standing up for yourself is a human right and if that needs to be started in Japan, then it's a long time coming.
PepinGalarga at 02:50 PM JST - 25th June

after a million posts here, i dont think anyone noticed that the headline is wrong. 34 died, but only 16 are suspected of overwork...

i'm not surprised, given its only .009% !!!!

More people die from playing golf.
Den Den at 02:59 PM JST - 25th June

pepingalarga is right. This proportion is much lower than figures for Japanese. They can't expect the country to create special employment conditions just for guests! This is Japan. Some of these people think coming here is like winning a lottery and that it rains money.
bongGee at 05:52 PM JST - 25th June

@fusedentropy

Let me guess - their lives back home is worse and thus it is better for them to stay in Japan and take the abuse - THEN STOP COMPLAINING!!! If your life is better off in Japan than in your home country - you have NO RIGHT to complain. Instead, why aren't you thankful???

you have no right to tell anyone when they may or may not complain. just because "-their lives back home is worse" , (MAY OR MAY NOT BE worse by the way), that is no reason to suffer abuse and discrimination.

imho, abuse and discrimination is something everyone has the right to stand up against, regardless of any previous abusive/discriminatory experience they might have had that might make their current situation pale in comparison.

peace out, bong gee
Mizuame at 09:29 AM JST - 26th June

Japan's "trainee" system can be seen in two ways, depending on your perspective. Either 1) it is simply a fascade for paying low wages to workers from poor countries who are sequestered in their dormitories and not allowed to form normal human relationships or be part of society, in order to enable the Japanese population to enjoy its high standard of living; or 2) it is an innovative system that enables workers from poor countries to make a sacrifice for a few years and build up some good earnings. Should the US, EU and Australia adopt this system?
fightfan2008 at 12:13 PM JST - 28th June

I agree with fusedentropy. If you apply for a job in Japan then you can expect that you will to work like a Japanese. I agree that their working conditions may have sucked, but I don't think that this incident warrents this much criticism against Japan; especially considering that in this day and age there are still people in this world who are forced to work against their will at gunpoint. Also, I'm not saying that discrimination in Japan does not exist, but considering that in many parts of the world (including the US/Europe,) foreign workers are physically attacked, harrased in public, etc. I think its a stretch to say that Japan is a 'desperately sick society' based on this article.