Currently, the number of foreign workers in Japan has reached an all-time high. But behind those record figures, stories of illegal employment and abuse are emerging everywhere.
Shady touts and workplace bullying have led many foreign workers to quit their jobs. Last year alone, more than 6,500 people who came to Japan in hopes of finding regular work disappeared from their positions.
Kansai TV launched an urgent investigation into the dark side of Japan's apprentice program.
“I just want to make money for my family” – Vietnamese workers now top the list with 570,000
On August 30, journalists headed to Tokushima before sunrise. By 6 a.m., groups of women arrived, dressed in work clothes and headed toward the green onion fields. Many were apprentices or specialized skilled workers from Vietnam and Myanmar.
The farm employs about 40 people, 17 of whom are foreigners. Nationwide, Japan now has more than 2.3 million foreign workers, with Vietnamese workers making up the largest number at 570,000.
Question: Why come to Japan?
Vietnamese workers: "To earn money for their families. Wages back home are about three times lower."
Question: Isn't the work difficult?
Vietnamese worker: "It's hard, but fun. The people here are kind, and it feels safe."
Tokushima companies have also seen workers disappear
IS Foods in Tokushima explained why they hire foreign workers: "Agriculture is not popular among Japanese workers. Without these people, we cannot keep the business going."
Some foreign workers even earn more than local part-time workers, with wages reaching 1,400 yen per hour for skilled workers. Yet, one employee suddenly disappeared, presumably after being promised a higher salary elsewhere by the brokers.
Rise of illegal brokers
Police in Nara arrested two people on charges of knowingly hiring Vietnamese apprentices without proper work permits. Similar arrests in Kobe revealed that brokers were pushing workers into unlicensed jobs such as beauty salons. Many workers leave low-paying jobs only to be pulled into illegal jobs.
A Vietnamese trainee reported that a supervisor kicked, bruised, and even hit him in the face with metal scissors. When colleagues protested, the boss shouted: "Go back to Vietnam! If you don't understand Japanese, get out!"
Why do so many disappear?
Low wages, harassment and false promises from recruiters motivate workers to leave the job. Many people disappear from their assigned jobs and do illegal work elsewhere. Last year, 6,510 trainees went missing.
A man admitted to leaving his company to earn more money and pay off debts. He wandered between factories until the police arrested him for overstaying his visa, eventually sending him back home.
What's next for Japan's apprenticeship system?
By 2027, the current apprenticeship program will be replaced by a new "Development Employment System". Under the new rules, employees can change companies and remain in Japan after training if certain conditions are met. Advocates say this is progress, but without proper complaint channels and stronger employee protections, the problems will not go away.
