HOKKAIDO - Seven Myanmar nationals working at an agricultural corporation in Hokkaido under Japan's Specified Skilled Worker status have accused their employer of repeated violence, intimidation and financial penalties, with some workers saying they were also called by numbers instead of their names and threatened with having their residence status revoked.
One of the workers, identified as A, came to Japan in May believing it to be a safe country but said he was instead subjected to repeated abuse at the farm.
The agricultural corporation is run by a man in his 60s and his two sons in their 40s, and employs a large number of foreign workers, including people from Myanmar.
Audio recordings said to have been made at the workplace capture a man believed to be the father shouting at employees. In one recording, he can be heard saying, "What is it? Do you have a complaint? Say it," before ordering a worker to come over.
A said the father grabbed him by the chest and pulled him, while one of the sons struck him with an object resembling a pipe.
Other recordings include remarks blaming workers for the treatment they received, with a man saying, "It's because you do stupid things," and accusing them of failing to work or understand instructions.
A said he felt frightened by the treatment.
The allegations extend beyond A. Several Myanmar employees who left the farm and are now being sheltered at a church have also accused the employer of physical and other forms of abuse.
Female workers said they had been slapped on the buttocks and touched on the chest.
The workers also allege they were threatened over their immigration status. In one recording, a man can be heard saying, "I am your employer. Who is your master in Japan?" and threatening to have a worker's residence card canceled.
Seven Myanmar men and women working under the Specified Skilled Worker residence status have reported being victims.
One of them, identified as Y, said he was slapped in the face by the father and struck on the head and elsewhere with a metal farming tool by another man, causing injuries.
Y filed a criminal complaint in August against the father and his second son on suspicion of assault and causing injury.
The workers said the mistreatment was not limited to violence.
Y said employees were sometimes referred to by numbers rather than their names. In one recording, a man asks, "Who is this? Number 10, this one? Is it you?" before moving on to "Number 11," which the workers said referred to Y.
Another worker, identified as Z, said the practice was humiliating. "We have names, so it made us sad," Z said.
Y and Z also allege they were forced to pay a combined 150,000 yen after gasoline was spilled inside a vehicle during farm work.
An audio recording said to document part of the repayment includes the father ordering 40,000 yen to be returned from take-home wages as compensation.
In another recording, a man tells the workers that if they do not obey instructions or make mistakes, they will be made to "learn" from the consequences, adding that they should now understand through their own experience.
The father, who is in his 60s, also serves as a local town assembly member.
At a committee meeting held in late August, other members attended but the assemblyman accused in the case was absent. The committee was closed to the public, and the alleged abuse was not openly discussed.
The assemblyman is also expected to be absent from all regular assembly meetings in September.
The local assembly has said it is difficult to debate the case because the police investigation has not been concluded and because the allegations concern private conduct rather than an abuse of his position as an elected official.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Ueno said on September 10 that he was aware of media reports concerning the case but declined to comment on the details of an individual matter.
According to a labor union in the Sapporo area supporting the workers, six Myanmar employees in addition to A are scheduled to hold collective bargaining talks with the agricultural corporation on September 11.
The union is seeking the assemblyman's attendance and plans to demand an apology over the alleged assaults as well as repayment of money collected from workers as compensation.
A is also considering filing criminal complaints against the assemblyman and his second son.
Around 30 foreign workers are still employed at the agricultural corporation.
The company told JNN that it is currently investigating the facts surrounding the allegations.
A separate corporation operated by the same family had its certification revoked four years ago after authorities determined that it had committed acts seriously violating the human rights of technical intern trainees.
Another company was subsequently established at the same location, and the Myanmar workers now alleging abuse were employed there.
Japan is scheduled to replace the Technical Intern Training Program with a new Employment for Skill Development system from fiscal 2027.
Under the current system, workers have generally faced restrictions on changing employers, a structure that has been criticized for making it difficult for people experiencing harassment or unfair treatment to speak out.
The new system is intended to improve working conditions by allowing workers to change employers under certain conditions, including in cases involving harassment or mistreatment.
Source: TBS
