"技能実習生の来日減少　ベトナムの日本離れ影響 企業は「特定技能」に移行　在留外国人は最多359万人," 19 October 2024

[Unofficial description by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

The number of technical intern trainees coming to Japan, who have supported the manufacturing and primary industry, is declining. This is due to companies avoiding technical intern training, which has been criticised for human rights violations, and shifting to the expanded "specified skilled worker" programme, as well as the fact that Vietnam, the largest sending country, is moving away from Japan.

Regarding the specified skilled workers, the labour union received a consultation in early August from two Myanmar women with specified skilled worker status who had been fired on their second day of employment. Until last year, the number of consultations regarding specified skilled workers was around three per month, but recently it has increased to 15 per month.

There are no specialised institutions such as "supervisory organisations" that are responsible for protecting trainees in the specified skilled worker programme, so there is an urgent need to establish a system for providing consultation services and job change support.