"［深層追跡］技能実習「安全徹底を」右指切断で組合側を提訴," 9 November 2024

[Unofficial description by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

At the Kesen Precut Business Cooperative, which handles wood processing, a Chinese technical intern trainee had his right hand caught in a machine and his finger amputated. He underwent emergency surgery to have his finger stitched up at the hospital, but he still has not regained feeling in his fingertip. The trainee claims that the accident was caused by a violation of duty of care of the union and the supervisory organization, the Ofunato Fisheries Processing Cooperative, and has filed a lawsuit against the union and the supervisory organization.

The union's representative director, Jutaro Izumida, denies the allegation that the job description was not given to workers, and claims that there was no violation of the duty of care.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of deaths and injuries due to industrial accidents among trainees last year was 4.10 per 1,000, significantly higher than the 2.36 for all workers.