Chinese migrant workers in Japan injured after working in “slave like” conditions

Six female migrants from Hubei province were found to be working 15 hours a day in a laundry, seven days a week in Japan. The six women went to Japan in late 2005 through a Chinese job agency and originally believed they would be working in the garment industry as skilled seamstresses.

However, according to recent reports, after the six workers complained in August 2008 about low wages and long hours, they were threatened with dismissal and ultimately deportation. Trying to escape deportation three of the women jumped from their dormitory and were later injured and sent to hospital. Eventually three were forcibly deported while three remain in hospital. The Shanghai Daily reports the injuries but suggests the women were beaten whereas other reports state the women jumped trying to escape deportation.
 
They were supposed to learn clothes manufacturing but in fact were working at Techoclean, a clothes washing firm, according to a report by a Chinese writer Mo Bangfu, recently published on the Japan-based Japan New Chinese Sojourners Daily. The report stated that three of the Chinese women were injured while the other three were forced to return home on August 22 after Techoclean rejected their demands for a pay rise.

The women reportedly became formal interns at the clothes washing company in December, 2006 following a year of study. In their employment contracts, they are required to work from 8:30am to 5:30pm with a monthly pay equivalent to nearly 3,200 Yuan (US$468).  However, they were often forced to work until midnight and at weekends at an overtime rate of 22 Yuan per hour. The rate was raised to 28 Yuan per hour this spring, far below the legal overtime rate of 810 yen an hour, which is about 50 Yuan an hour. In the six months from September to this March, the women were only allowed three days off.  Before factory inspections by local supervisory bodies, the workers were forced to sign documents saying they were receiving a monthly income of 110,000 yen (HK$7,936) and worked no more than the maximum 33 overtime hours every month. 

Domestic Agency threatens workers employed as “interns”

The women were employed in late 2005 as "technical interns" through the Dongchuang Overseas Labor Service Co, based in Huangshi City, central China's Hubei Province. An employee of the agency told media most people recruited by the company, including these women were technically employed as “technical interns” to get around Japan's labour regulations. "This is the only legal measure to get [Chinese workers] work in Japan. Otherwise, you have to resort to study or business visas," he said.

The Chinese workers told Mo Bangfu that their families had allegedly been threatened by Dongchuang, the Chinese employment agency, after their sufferings were exposed.

Official Response

According to media in Hong Kong, the Chinese Foreign Ministry publically called on the Japanese government to “respect Chinese citizens' lawful rights” following accusations that the six women had been effectively enslaved by their Japanese employer. The Ministry is reportedly undertaking an investigation into the incident.

The employee of the Dongchuang Overseas Labor Service Company told media that the general manager was now in Japan investigating the case. The employee also reported that officials from city and provincial-level labour authorities had also investigated the case, but refused to give details.

This case is obviously of great public interest given the often complicated and troubled relations between the two countries and we expect the case to gain greater publicity within China. A previous report by IHLO (following letters written by the ITUC to the Chinese and Equatorial Guinea governments) into the deaths of two Chinese workers in Equatorial Guinea (while working for a Chinese company who did not pay them wages) showed the problematic response of the authorities and as in this case – there were reports that the hiring company or agency also threatened the workers and their families. The Chinese Foreign ministry initially put out a statement on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, entitled “Our workers went on strike and caused conflicts in Equatorial Guinea " which seemed to be placing the blame for the deaths on the dead and injured workers themselves. The statement further stated that “the 100 workers ignored the local law and started a strike. They caused conflict with local police when they were trying to keep order".

Indeed the statement continued; "in recent years, more Chinese go abroad. Some go as illegal immigrants and some go without a contract and these create all sorts of labour disputes. A small group of these people do not handle their problems rationally and without a sense of rule of law launch illegal strikes, attacked local law-enforcing bodies and seriously disturb the security.”  The statement was later removed.

For more details see: Deaths of two Chinese migrants in Equatorial Guinea: False promises and no redress

The ITUC made clear that many of the problems faced by Chinese workers overseas are in fact directly related to the lack of protection for Chinese workers both at home and abroad. Instead of laying the blame on workers who face exploitative working conditions and are essentially working unpaid, the Chinese authorities should ensure that Chinese workers have access to clear avenues for support, protection and advice throughout their work abroad. Of particular note is the potential role for the ACFTU in the protection and promotion of workers rights – at home and abroad.

Given that China is increasing its investment abroad and sending Chinese workers to many parts of the word – there is a corresponding rise in cases where Chinese workers are abused by either abusive employers or through the lack of state protection for workers in the particular country. In the letter the ITUC urged the Chinese authorities to increase support to Chinese migrant workers abroad by mediating in labour conflicts especially when Chinese employers are involved – there have been several reports of national trade unions being refused entry into Chinese-owned companies with Chinese workers overseas.

Sources:
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-09-09/023716255249.shtml, South China Morning Post, Shanghai Daily,

IHLO, September 2008