TOKYO: The Japanese diet has passed a bill prohibits employment of unskilled foreign labor mostly from Asian countries.
The government sponsored bill was supported by all opposition parties except the communists. It came as a climax to a nearly two yearlong intense nationwide campaign against Asian labor.
Under the new law an employer of an unskilled “illegal” foreign worker may be jailed up to three years or be fined 300,000 yen (2112 dollars).
English teachers from English speaking countries or entertainers like dancers and singers are regarded as skilled and entitled to seek employment in Japan.
The Immigration office says there are over 100,000 unskilled workers employed illegally in Japan.
They come as tourists and are then baited by agents for small scale industries and construction firms on meager wages without any benefits.
Even when they are victims of violence they cannot seek redress lest their illegal status be exposed.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 22, 1989
