Overview of the Case
In May 2023, the Immigration Services Agency and police authorities confirmed a case in which three women from Southeast Asia who entered Japan as technical interns were forced by their host operator to switch to providing sexual services. The representative of the training-implementing institution is under investigation on suspicion of human trafficking and violating the Immigration Control Act (promotion of illegal employment).
Connection to the Debate Over Abolishing the Program
This case occurred at a time when the government's discussions on "abolishing the technical intern training program and transitioning to an employment-for-skill-development program" were advancing. In expert panels, criticism that "the technical intern training program is a breeding ground for human rights violations" has been strong, and this case once again reinforced those concerns.
Establishing a Support and Remedy System
With the cooperation of a support group, the three victims have been taken into a shelter, and procedures to support their return home are underway. An advocate pointed out: "Abolishing the technical intern training program is necessary, but that alone is not enough. A comprehensive framework to prevent human rights violations against foreign workers in general is needed."
This article is compiled based on publicly available information.