More than 9,700 technical intern trainees disappear from their workplaces, a record high

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

職場から失踪した技能実習生 過去最高の9700人余に

2024年9月20日 6時50分

日本で働きながら技能を学ぶ外国人技能実習生のうち、職場から失踪した人の数が去年、過去最高の9700人余りとなったことが分かりました。働く場所を変える「転籍」が原則認められていないことが要因の1つとされていて、国は対策に乗り出しています。

出入国在留管理庁のまとめでは、去年、職場からいなくなった技能実習生は9753人で、おととしより747人増え、これまでで最も多くなりました。

技能実習生全体のおよそ50人に1人の割合で、国別に見るとベトナムが最も多く5481人、ミャンマーが1765人、中国が816人、カンボジアが694人などとなっています。

職種別に見ると建設関係が47.1％と最も多く、農業関係が8.6％、食品製造関係が8.5％、機械・金属関係が7.9％でした。

技能実習生は「やむをえない事情」がある場合を除いて働く場所を変える「転籍」が認められていないため、職場でのトラブルなどで失踪するケースも相次いでいると言われています。

このため出入国在留管理庁は、「やむをえない事情」の具体例として、暴行やハラスメントを受けている場合や、重大で悪質な法令違反などがあった場合があたるとして、「転籍」を認める要件を明確にしました。

また、ハラスメントなどの被害者がいた場合、同僚の実習生も「転籍」できると認めるなど、対策に乗り出しています。

失踪者対策の現状と今後

出入国在留管理庁が行う対策では、「転籍」の手続き期間中の就労を認めるなど実習生を支援する内容が盛り込まれています。

対策では、「転籍」の手続き期間に働くことができず生活に困る実習生もいることから、必要に応じて1週間に28時間以内の就労を認めることにしています。

また手続きに必要な書類の書式を実習生の母国語にした物を新たに整備します。

3年後には「技能実習制度」が廃止され、新たに「育成就労制度」が始まり、転籍の要件が緩和されます。

もとの職場で1年から2年働き、業務分野が同じであれば本人の希望で別の企業などに移ることができます。

Translation

More than 9,700 technical intern trainees disappear from their workplaces, a record high

It was revealed that the number of foreign technical intern trainees who were learning skills while working in Japan but disappeared from their workplaces last year had reached a record high of more than 9,700. One of the reasons for this was that "transfers" to change the place of work were not permitted in principle, and the government was taking measures.

According to a summary by the Immigration Services Agency, 9,753 technical intern trainees disappeared from their workplaces last year, an increase of 747 from the year before last, the highest number ever.

This was about 1 in 50 technical intern trainees in total, and by country, Vietnam had the most with 5,481, followed by Myanmar with 1,765, China with 816, and Cambodia 694 and so forth.

By occupation, construction was the most common at 47.1%, followed by agriculture at 8.6%, food manufacturing at 8.5%, and machinery/metals 7.9%.

Technical intern trainees were not allowed to change their place of work unless there were "unavoidable circumstances", so it was said that there had been a series of disappearances due to troubles at work etc.

For this reason, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan had clarified the conditions for allowing "transfers", stating that specific examples of "unavoidable circumstances" included cases where a trainee had been subjected to assault or harassment, or a serious and malicious violation of laws and regulations.

In addition, measures such as allowing fellow trainees to "transfer" if they had been victims of harassment had been taken.

Current and future measures in dealing with missing persons

The measures taken by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan included measures to support trainees, such as allowing them to work during the "transfer" procedure was in progress.

As part of the measures, in response to the fact that some trainees were unable to work during the transfer process and struggle to make ends meet, the government would allow them to work up to 28 hours a week if needed.

In addition, new formats for the documents needed for the transfer process would be prepared in the trainees' native language.

After three years, the Technical Intern Training System would be abolished and a new Development Employment System would begin, relaxing the requirements for transfer.

After working at their original workplace for one to two years, trainees could move to another company at their own request as long as they remain in the same field of work.

So, the number of technical intern trainees working in Japan who disappeared from their workplaces has reached a record high last year. In response, the government will abolish the present system and use a new one  in order to relax the requirements for work transfer. I am wondering, under the current system, how many disappeared trainees have become illegal residents in the country.