The Hidden Struggles of Chinese Workers in Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program

Zhou Liang’s Bold Decision

In the spring of 2015, Zhou Liang made a life-altering decision. At just 25 years old, he fled his contract in Japan to become an illegal foreign worker. Having spent only four months in Nagoya, a city on Japan’s Honshu island, he felt overwhelmed and desperate for change. His family faced financial difficulties after borrowing 300,000 yuan (around $49,000) to purchase a home in Shangqiu, a city in Central China’s Henan province. A labor broker convinced Zhou that moving abroad could lead to better financial opportunities.

The Reality of the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)

Introduced in 1993, Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) was designed to transfer skills and technology to developing countries. However, it has evolved into a major channel for attracting foreign workers to Japan, especially in labor-intensive industries like agriculture and manufacturing. Initially dominated by Chinese workers, who comprised nearly 60% of the training program in 2014, the demographics have shifted over time, with Vietnam now leading.

Despite the government’s portrayal of the program’s benevolence, many trainees, including Zhou, seek work primarily out of economic necessity. The sectors they enter are often described as the “three Ks”: “kitanai” (dirty), “kitsui” (hard), and “kiken” (dangerous). Unfortunately, many foreign workers, lured by promises of better wages, find themselves exploited and confined to substandard conditions.

The Illusion of Opportunity

Before leaving for Japan, Zhou held a job in Shenzhen earning 6,000 yuan per month. Lured by promises of an hourly wage of 800 Japanese yen, Zhou signed a contract with a labor broker, paid a hefty signing fee of 35,000 yuan, and learned Japanese for three months. Upon arriving in Japan, he was initially impressed by the country’s public order and food quality. However, the realities quickly tarnished his expectations.

Zhou discovered that not only was he earning below the minimum wage, but he also faced strict working hours and verbal abuse from his employer. After deductions for rent and insurance, his salary fell to a mere 5,000 yuan monthly, less than his earnings in China. Despite reporting the mistreatment, he found no support, leaving him disillusioned.

The Broker’s Game

China has over 800 authorized labor agencies facilitating overseas employment, but these agencies are unevenly distributed. In rural areas with fewer agencies, workers often resort to brokers, who charge exorbitant fees and provide misleading information about job conditions. Zhou learned that his signing-on fee was relatively low; others paid as much as 50,000 yuan.

Following his departure from his initial job, Zhou worked intermittently in different roles under increasingly precarious conditions. Any escape from the TITP risks deportation, as absconding workers are labeled “missing” by Japanese immigration authorities.

Challenges in Reporting Abuse

In Japan, the lack of competition in the labor market allows employers to maintain low salaries for trainees, creating a disincentive for raising wages. This has left many workers feeling trapped in their circumstances. The government is aware of the exploitation, but regulatory oversight chiefly concerns the number of recruits and their roles rather than brokers’ actions.

In recent years, the situation has become less appealing for younger Chinese workers, as salaries have barely increased, and many find themselves in sectors outside of the traditional fields covered by the TITP.

Misleading Promises and Poor Conditions

Brokers frequently exaggerate salary potential to attract workers, knowing that actual pay often deviates from what is promised. Many trainees share stories of grueling work conditions, low wages, and inadequate housing. One anonymous worker who left the TITP described living in a dilapidated home while working in a physically demanding job with no promised overtime.

Employers are expected to uphold Japanese labor laws, but the reality for many trainees is one of exploitation. Reports of employers violating these laws are numerous, but few trainees feel empowered to report abuse due to fear of retaliation.

A New Wave of Policies

As Japan prepares to add 40,000 foreigners to its workforce through new visa policies aimed at countering its aging population, experts caution that these changes may not solve existing problems within the TITP. The potential for more challenges looms, particularly as many individuals will transition from trainee status to new work visas.

Zhou’s Transformation

While Zhou’s arduous journey as an illegal worker took a toll on his mental health and social life, he eventually found a path to stability. After several years, he married a woman of Chinese descent and was able to secure a legal visa as a dependent. Now settled in Yokohama, Zhou reflects on his past with relief.

Having escaped the constraints of the TITP, he is building a life that allows him to participate fully in society, no longer fearing the oppressive shadows of his former status. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices many make in search of a better life and the heartbreaking realities faced along the way.