|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject: Firms urged to do more to help foreigners adapt |
 |
|
Headline from today's Mainichi Shinbun: Firms urged to do more to help foreigners adapt to Japanese society
| Quote: |
| It has been pointed out that the employment of foreign workers, most of them working at factories, is insecure, and that many of them are not covered by social security programs. Moreover, they often have problems involving their children's education and communication with Japanese residents because of language barriers. |
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080121p2a00m0na027000c.html
A positive note, it seems. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| The six-point charter urges companies in the region to improve working conditions for foreign workers, provide them with opportunities to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and customs and help them and their families to integrate themselves into regional communities. |
This is pretty much the extent of the info provided in the article. Companies are urged to do things, yet even though the local governments have made the charter with them, the article says nothing about the involvement of the national government (which sets the rules on things like insurance plans, pension benefits, visas, etc.), nor does it say in any measure of detail what the charter offers the foreign workers.
"improve working conditions" could be nothing more than cleaner toilets. (Yes, that is being sarcastic, but it makes my point.)
"opportunities to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture" could be more bonenkai invitations.
"help them and their families integrate" has no examples given on what this would mean (language lessons? culture lessons? financial assistance in putting their kids through school? explanatory lectures on insurance plans, investing, buying a car, etc.?)
Positive note, but a very quiet and vague one, IMO. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski wrote: |
Positive note, but a very quiet and vague one, IMO. |
True, but it has to be this way or the cacophony of sounds coming from the gritting of teeth and sucking of air would deafen us all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Don't you already hear them?
| Quote: |
The government bodies are expected to consider whether to include Japanese language ability as a new screening standard for people entering the country, and consider checking whether foreigners' Japanese language ability has improved when renewing their residence permits.
However, some government officials have expressed reservations about the proposed measures, saying there is a possibility it could result in valuable human resources not being able to enter the country. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080116p2a00m0na017000c.html |
| Quote: |
| A Foreign Ministry official in charge of the issue stressed that the idea is not exclusionary. "It is not about placing new restrictions by imposing a language-ability requirement," the official said on customary condition of anonymity. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080116a1.html |
| Quote: |
| Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Tuesday....the envisioned measure is believed to be aimed at eradicating illegal residency and likely part of antiterrorism policies. http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/425041 |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ah no, ah no..... oh well. Probably we might need to take a time machine and come back in 200 years or so. By that time I'll be recognized as a minority in the US and Japan will be......... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
On the heels of the implentation of a foreigner fingerprinting system, the proposal that a certain level of Japanese language proficiency be required of long-term residents is a bit like rubbing salt in the wound.
One can only guess where Japan is heading with such policies, but it seems that, more and more, Japan sees that it will have to import foreign workers to fill the labor pool and keep tax money going into a struggling pension system.
I guess that before Japan opens the floodgates and lets foreign workers immigrate en masse, it would like to set up a scenario where everything happens on Japan's terms. That means everyone speaks the language and fits properly into society.
The problem is that those foreigners, regardless of their Japanese language profieciency or ability to 'fit in', will always face discrimination somewhere in society (like many other countries in the world) and will feel the sting of it more when they have to wonder why the hell they worked so hard to learn the language and fit in. I mean, is this government that wants all the foreigners to 'fit in' and 'benefit' society the same government that will continue to allow black vans to set up in public places and spew out anti-foreigner sentiments? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| southofreality wrote: |
| One can only guess where Japan is heading with such policies, but it seems that, more and more, Japan sees that it will have to import foreign workers to fill the labor pool and keep tax money going into a struggling pension system. |
I agree with all of your sentiments. As for the one above, we both know the poor history of Japan importing foreign workers. Not likely to happen soon to counteract the declining birthrate. The article (and its more well-meaning intentions, if there truly were any) could have been planned a whole lot better, IMO. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I would say many Japanese conveniently ignore what the black vans spew, or even claim that they are now 'inviting' foreigners to work here (personally I have never heard the latter, and wonder where a noted poster on another forum heard it, I mean beyond from his own mouth).
Japan will remain as a relatively safe place to work, but certainly not 'inviting'. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
