Japan's "Forced Labor" Countermeasures Remain Insufficient - US State Department Report, Skilled Internship System Under Scrutiny

The U.S. Department of State released its 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report on the 24th. Regarding Japan, it pointed out the inadequacy of measures to prevent "forced labor" within the foreign worker technical intern training program and maintained its ranking in Tier 2, the second-highest level, in the four-tier assessment. The target period is one year, ending in late March. The report somewhat acknowledged the revision bill, including the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act that establishes a new system called "Nurturing Employment" to replace the technical intern training program, which was submitted to the Diet in March. The revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, etc., was enacted on the 14th of this month. The State Department has been raising concerns about the technical intern training program up until now. The 2024 report concluded that Japan has "failed to meet the minimum standards" because the government has not actively identified victims of human trafficking or pursued perpetrators.

In the report, the U.S. Department of State pointed out that the Japanese government's efforts to resolve forced labor issues arising from the foreign worker technical intern training program are insufficient. In particular, it criticized the confiscation of interns' passports, excessive fees and deposits, and contracts containing penalty clauses. Furthermore, the department expressed concerns that the lack of government oversight and regulation of companies operating the technical intern training program increases the likelihood of forced labor.

The 2014 U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report identified Japan as a country that sends victims of human trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation, as well as a source and transit country for victims. The report specifically cited instances of forced labor through the technical intern training program and urged the Japanese government to strengthen its efforts to address human trafficking issues.

The Japanese government has stated that it will improve the technical intern training program and strengthen its anti-human trafficking efforts in response to these criticisms. However, the international community questions whether the government's efforts will yield tangible results. The Japanese government must take proactive steps to dispel international concerns and improve the technical intern training program to eradicate forced labor.