24 Sep 2020

I wish to inform you that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, during its 101st session, considered the follow-up report submitted by the Government of Japan, pursuant to article 9 (1) of the Convention and rule 65 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee...

The Committee thanks the State party for the information on the on-site inspections of supervising and implementing organizations carried out by the Organization for Technical Intern Training in an effort to ensure that the system adequately protects technical intern trainees, as well as on their outcome. It is, however, concerned about information that the licensing system introduced by the Act on Proper Technical Intern Training and the Protection of Technical Intern Trainees is not strictly enforced, as illustrated by the fact that only one supervising organization’s license has been revoked to date. It is also concerned at information regarding the insufficient human and financial resources allocated to the Organization for Technical Intern Training for its on-site inspections, as well as the lack of transparency regarding the publication of its findings. Moreover, it notes the efforts of the State party to improve the technical intern training programme by implementing the recommendations made by a project team of the Ministry of Justice, which conducted surveys on cases of disappearance and death of technical intern trainees and reviewed the operation status of the current system. Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned at reports that technical intern trainees are subjected to poor working conditions, abusive and exploitative practices, and bonded-labour-type situations, which shows the need for a further revision and a more thorough Government oversight of the programme. It also regrets the lack of information on the implementation and impact of the Act. The Committee considers that the response to this recommendation is partially satisfactory and requests the State party to provide, in its next periodic report, detailed information on further steps taken to ensure that the technical intern training programme is properly regulated, in line with the Act on Proper Technical Intern Training and Protection of Technical Intern Trainees, and that it is adequately monitored by the Government. The Committee also requests the State party to include information on the implementation and impact of the Act...