The two faces of Japan and the arrival of Filipino technical interns WIN-WIN SOLUTION?

Having lived and studied in Japan for several years, I tell my friends that Japan has two faces. A few days ago, I visited Nukasen, a small town in the snowy mountains of Nagano for a research workshop. Nukasen is situated 750 meters above sea-level and has an average snowfall of 1.5 meters. It is well-known for its majestic views and ski resorts. And just like the rest of Japan, its population is rapidly ageing and shrinking. Since most of their youth have moved to Tokyo and other urban areas, in 2015, its town population has shrank by almost 50% of its 1955 population. Out of its 4,661 residents, most of them are above 65 years old and there are only 3 children living in the town. Furthermore, since they do not have any children left, their own elementary school was converted into an elderly care facility. On the other side of the coin, Prime Minister Abe of Japan cosplayed as Mario at the closing of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Using colorful media and high-tech dance routines, Abe invited everyone to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, one that promises to impress with its technological prowess, lively traditional arts, and popular culture.

While the two faces of Cool Japan and Graying Japan are worlds apart, there is one thing that connects them: their need for foreign migrants.

Japan is a country of contradictions.

As any of the recent Filipino tourists who flocked to Japan during cherry blossom viewing season will tell you, Japan is well-known for omotenashi, or selfless hospitality which is the cultural trait that respects guests and offer impeccable service. On the other hand, the Japanese are said to be a closed society that values their ethnic homogeneity and are hesitant to open its borders to foreigners. Among developed countries, Japan has one of the lowest rates of resident foreigners with only 2.23 million, making up 1.7% of its total population. How can Japan meet its demand for foreign labor, while at the same time maintain its ethnic and cultural purity in our hyperglobalized world?

Enter the Technical Internship Training Program (TITP).

To be administered by the POEA and a newly formed agency jointly administered by Japan’s labor ministry and ministry of justice, this program aims to bring various workers from the Philippines and Asia to train as technical interns and work in Japanese industries, and then take the skills that they learned in Japan to bring economic development to their home countries.

For the past year alone, various media outlets and placement agencies have been quick to point out the demand in construction, service, and hospitality sectors in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Moreover, Japan needs caregivers and health care professionals for its care facilities and hospitals.

Since the Philippines is well-known for sending OFWs to other countries for construction (Middle East), service and hospitality (Hong Kong, Southeast Asia) and health care (US, Canada, and UK), it seems natural that the Philippines should send its skilled OFW. What better way to help Cool Japan’s industries, help its ageing population, while at the same time provide jobs and skills training to our global Filipinos? However, there is a catch. The TITP is but the latest iteration of flawed trainee policies. Some criticisms include: labor abuse by employers, non-payment of salaries, and in some extreme cases, death by overwork. If there were cases of abuse, surely these trainees would be protected by labor laws? There lies the problem. Since these workers are officially “technical interns” who went to Japan to learn new skills, they are not guest workers and not protected by labor laws. Furthermore, studies show that there hasn’t been substantial technology transfer that Filipino trainees bring back home to develop the nascent industries in the Philippines. For activists, the TITP is a side-door migration policy for Japan to exploit cheap foreign labor.

NOT A GUEST WORKER PROGRAM, SO WHAT?

While the latest version of the TITP promises stronger labor protection laws, better benefits, and oversight to ensure technical skills transfer; there is still a major point to be raised. The TITP still calls its foreign workers as technical interns and not as foreign guest workers. As stated in the supplementary section of the House resolution discussing the inclusion of care workers in the new TITP law, “the addition of elderly care in the TITP list of sectors is NOT intended to alleviate the shortage of workers in Japan, but ONLY for/as Japan’s international contribution based on the needs of the sending country.”

Supporters might point out that even if the TITP does not recognize technical interns as guest workers, it would not matter if they receive a fair salary and good labor conditions.

However, I believe that if Japan does not create a comprehensive guest worker program that acknowledges the contribution of foreign labor migrant to its ageing society and stagnant economy, then foreign migrants will remain vulnerable and hidden in Japanese society.

Let us call a spade, a spade. Japan is cool, but it is also ageing. Japan should recognize its migrant population as significant contributors to its society. Japan should welcome these guest workers in the same way that they welcome foreign tourists who prop up Japan’s lagging economy, through omotenashi.

To welcome someone into your home, anticipate their needs, which is then seen as a privilege for being their host.

BLUEBOARD BENJAMIN SAN JOSE While the two faces of Cool Japan and Graying Japan are worlds apart, there is one thing that connects them: their need for foreign migrants.

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