Disadvantages and Risks in Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program (Continuation)

Dismissal

All 27 Filipino trainees reported　that their employers had, at some point,　threatened to dismiss them and send them　back to the Philippines. These threats often occurred　when they did not agree to a demand,　expressed a grievance, or when their　employers thought they were　underperforming. For some, repatriation would result in steep financial losses, rendering them unable to earn back what they had paid in recruitment fees and causing them to forfeit the deposits they had paid to their recruiters. Some employers follow through with these threats. Of the 769 Gifu Cases, 76 (about 10 percent) involved dismissal and deportation.

Several trainees recounted being threatened with deportation after demanding basic workplace rights. The employer of one construction trainee threatened not to renew his contract after the　trainee asked for sick leave to recover from a workplace injury. Some trainees were threatened with deportation after asking to receive the Japanese minimum wage, to which they are legally entitled.

Case Study:

Summary Dismissal

After working in a garment factory for three years, three female trainees requested overtime wages owed to them. Their employer responded by ordering them into a car and driving them to Nagoya Airport without explaining where they were going. He left them at the airport without their belongings, which remained at their hostel. They subsequently sought shelter at the Gifu Union Office.

I believe that SSW is far better than TITP because there are so many ways to abuse the employee and more ways of corruption for the employers. In SSW everything will be fair and stable because the SSW employee will be treated not as a student but a Japanese Employee. Their salary and benefits will be the same as the Japanese employee and the reason for corruption and abuse is far fewer than TITP.