Foreign interns brought to Japan under its official job training program are being used to offset a shortage of construction workers in Kumamoto Prefecture, which is trying to rebound from the deadly earthquakes that struck in 2016.
But some people fear the interns are being exploited. A Filipino who was assigned to a local construction company has already sued over unfair treatment.
Japan launched the training program in 1993 as part of a purported campaign to transfer technical skills to developing countries. But the oft-maligned program, which covers vocations and skills ranging from carpentry and farming to caregiving and shucking oysters, has drawn fire over reports of harsh treatment and exploitation. It has often been called a cover for cheap labor.