The Violation of Human Rights Will Continue Under New Law 〜 Rally to Protect the Rights and Lives of Japan’s Foreign Technical Interns

 On November 1^st, a new law came into effect regarding “foreign technical intern,” of which there are about 220,000 currently working in Japan. The law not only extends the training period from a maximum of three years to five years, but now includes care workers, broadening the range of those eligible for the training program. Are there any problems with the new law? According to attorney IBUSUKI Shouichi, who spoke firmly about the legislation, “human rights violations will continue to occur under this law.” On October 31^st, 180 people gathered in front of the Diet building to participate in a rally to “protect the rights and lives of foreign technical interns.” The crowd was larger than expected and the presence of multiple TV camera crews suggested a high level interest. More than ten interns from Vietnam, Myanmar and China took the stage and spoke of the realities facing foreign intern trainees. The story of an intern from China whose finger got crushed at a cardboard factory is particularly disturbing (photo). An officer of Gifu’s General Workers’ Union reported that workplace accidents are most common. In addition, cases of long working hours, unpaid wages, human rights violations and verbal abuse show no sign of stopping. At the rally, there was a woman from Vietnam who had come to Tokyo after escaping her job at a garment company in Ehime prefecture, where she was forced to work until 3 in the morning without any overtime pay. The Zentoitsu Workers’ Union has offered her support and is currently working to enter into collective bargaining with the company. (M) 

新法で人権侵害はなくならない！〜「守ろう！外国人技能実習生のいのちと権利」集会

現在22万人が働いている「外国人技能実習生」だが、11月1日より「技能実習法」が施行される。これまで3年だった期間が5年に延長されたり、対象を介護職にも拡大するなど受け入れ枠を広げる法律だ。問題はないのか？ 指宿昭一弁護士は「この法律では人権侵害はなくならない」ときっぱり語った。10月31日に参院会館で開かれた「守ろう！外国人技能実習生のいのちと権利」集会は、予想以上の180人が参加。TVカメラも多く関心の高さを窺わせた。10人以上のベトナム・ミャンマー・中国からの実習生が壇上に上がり、実状を訴えた。ダンボール工場で指をつぶされた中国人実習生の手が痛々しい（写真）。「とにかく一番多いのが労災」と岐阜一般労組の役員が報告。長時間労働、賃金未払い、人権侵害、暴言もあとを絶たない。「愛媛の縫製業、午前3時まで働いても残業代も出ない。職場を脱出して東京まで逃げてきた」ベトナム女性もいた。現在、全統一労組がサポートし会社に団交を申し入れている。（M） 写真速報・動画（8分）・NHKニュース

‘We have no other choice but unions... a gate to hope’

On Oct. 12, Labornet TV sent a special program, "What's behind cheap laundry business?”

 Laundry business is said to be one of industries filled with corporate malpractices. The term generally carries connotation of being a sweatshop, and such companies resort to exploiting young staff and part-timers by forcing them to work excessively long hours without overtime pay. This year, unions were formed at one company after another. The workers from three companies, Royal Net, Global Company and Kagaya Shoukai appeared on Labornet TV and talked about their longstanding struggles and their delight to be a union member.

 Every year, in the factories of Global Company, quite a lot of workers suffered a heat stroke where the working condition was like "a burning hell," with the temperature hovering as much as 48 degrees Celsius. This horrific working environment urged the employees to form a union. On July 26, they successfully unionized and demanded that the company that it install cooling measures among other issues.

 Thanks to the newly born union, the workers were able to get some result from collective bargaining. The union members now have a say, got paid overtime, can take a break, and have paid vacation, and social insurance.

 These ordinary practices that they had never had before came finally into reality.

 SUZUKI Kazuyuki, the owner of the laundry company, said emphatically, "We need a labor union in this business by all means because rough competitive environment leads to deteriorating the quality of services, and also it brings adverse effects on consumers."

 IBUSUKI Shoichi, a lawyer and commentator on the program, got the heart of the problem of Japan's trainee system for young foreigners, which is widely perceived little more than a cheap labor to compensate for labor shortage at factories and on farms.   (Labornet TV project ) 

やっぱり「希望はユニオン！」～レイ バーネットTVでクリーニング特集

10月12日のレイバーネットTVは特集「格安クリーニ ングの裏側～灼熱地獄からのたたかい」を放送した。業界自体が ブラックといわれるクリーニング業界で、ことし組合結成が相次 いだ。番組には、ロイヤルネット・グローバル社・加賀屋商会の3 つの職場の労働者が出演した。グローバル社の工場は48度の「灼 熱地獄」で、毎年熱中症で倒れる人が続出した。そんな中で7月26 日に組合をつくり「冷房対策」を求め一定の成果を上げた。成果 はほかにも「意見が言えるようになった」「残業代がでた」「休 憩時間がとれた」「有給がとれた」「社会保険に入れた」など、 あたりまえのことが組合ができてやっと実現したのだ。経営者の 鈴木和幸さんも、「この業界に労働組合が必要。苛酷な労働環境 は結局品質低下を招き、消費者にも迷惑をかけている」と強調し た。番組のコメンテーターは指宿昭一弁護士で、「外国人技能実 習生問題」にもズバリ斬り込んだ。（レイバーネットTVプロジェ クト）