"技能実習制度及び特定技能制度の在り方に関する有識者会議中間報告に対する声明 ー「廃止」をまやかしに終わらせるのではなく、奴隷労働構造の根絶をー" 12 May 2023

[ Japanese-to-English translation: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre ]

On 22 November 2022, the Government established the Panel of Experts on the State of the Technical Training Programmes and the Specific Skills System ("the Panel"), which has now published an interim report ("the Report").

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First, the Report states that, with regard to the new system, while assuming that the technical training programme has a "human resources development function", this human resources development function "should also be considered to be positioned as an objective in the new system" (4, 2, (1)).

To begin with, the 'human resources development function' is not unique to the technical training programme, but is a natural part of 'migrant labour', as demonstrated by the success of newcomer foreign workers over the past 40 years. In addition, the current technical training programme is designed to "promote international cooperation through the transfer of skills, technology or knowledge (hereinafter referred to as 'skills, etc.') to developing regions, etc. through human resources development". However, this has never been verified and there has been no follow-up on the transfer of skills or knowledge, let alone so-called 'good practices'. It is sterile to continue to set out a skeleton objective, and it must be remembered that this has been used in the name of hindering freedom of 'workplace mobility' and creating a slave labour structure.

The fact that the objective of the new system is to secure human resources while also setting out 'human resources development' is tantamount to creating a gap between the real intention and the pretence of 'acceptance of foreign workers', violating the human rights of the foreign technical training system, and continuing the slave labour structure.

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This report states that, under the new system, "While retaining the restrictions on transfers that derive from the fact that the purpose of the system is to develop human resources themselves, the system should consider relaxing the restrictions on transfers more than before from the perspective of enhancing the rights of workers and protecting the purpose of the system and the target foreign nationals, since the purpose of the system is to ensure human resources" (4,3,(1)).

However, as mentioned above, the problem lies in the deception and deceit of 'human resources development', and it is clear that there is not a shred of rationality in restricting the freedom of transfer, which is a universal right of workers in a democratic society. [...]

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This report states that "In order to actively and smoothly accept foreign human resources with unskilled Japanese language skills and skill levels from overseas and to carry out appropriate human resources development, etc., the international matching function of the supervisory bodies under the current technical training programme, the function of supervision and support for proper acceptance of host companies, etc., the function of overall protection and support for foreigners in their professional and daily lives, etc., and the function of support for foreigners under the current designated skills system are important" (4, 3 (2), a)).

It is clear that the source of debt labour lies in the "international matching function" of the supervisory bodies with the sending organisations[...]. There is no need at all for the supervisory bodies to continue to exist based on such a premise, which is inappropriate. It has been pointed out in this report that the involvement of private bodies in sending out apprentices has caused them to incur large debts at the time of sending them out (4, 3, (2), c).

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The report also considers designing the system to ensure a smooth transition from the new system to the specific skills system (4, 2, (2)).

However, the new system is based on the idea of a short-term rotational system, which would restrict family ties and also deprive the applicant of the option to become a permanent resident. The new system will prevent workers coming to Japan from settling down, and will not adequately guarantee their rights as a resident, and as a result, may not contribute to resolving labour shortages in the region.

What is needed now are 'bearers' and 'successors' of local industries, not merely 'human resources'. [...]

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