Vietnamese Workers in Japan Face Wage Arrears and Misassignment Issues

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Vietnamese workers using Japan's high-skilled "Gijinkoku" visa are confronting significant issues, including wage arrears and improper job assignments that don’t align with their expertise. These problems came to light when a group of workers protested at the Nekuseru employment agency in Chiba Prefecture last December, demanding unpaid wages from September and October.

The Vietnamese embassy in Tokyo, led by Phan Tien Hoang, responded promptly by engaging with stakeholders like Nekuseru, affected workers, and local officials. Efforts to resolve the issue involved working closely with the Toyota Labor Standards Inspection Office. Reports indicate that about 150 Vietnamese workers are owed a collective sum of 48 million yen (US$330,000) by Nekuseru, which faces financial insolvency and has halted operations, leaving many workers stranded without jobs or financial support.

Despite being categorized as "trainees" initially by Japanese media, these workers possess the "Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services" visa, a critical pathway under the Gijinkoku system intended for skilled professionals in fields such as engineering, translation, and business management. This visa, not legally defined as "high-level human resources," has seen its holders more than triple in the past decade, rising from 121,160 in 2015 to 411,261 by 2023, according to the Ministry of Labor.

Vietnamese nationals represent the largest segment of foreign workers in Japan, with over 570,000 individuals employed across various sectors. Yet, issues with improper job allocations have increased notably, as highlighted by NHK coverage on April 16 and confirmed by the Japan Vietnam Tomoiki Association. The association reports a surge in grievances from Gijinkoku visa holders forced into jobs unrelated to their registered professions, such as cleaning roles, which should typically fall under the technical intern training program.

Workers often pay substantial broker fees, exceeding $7,000 in some cases, for skilled positions, yet land roles beneath their qualifications. These jobs, offering neither bonuses nor competitive wages, exacerbate their financial challenges. Language barriers further isolate these workers, making it difficult for them to navigate workplace communications effectively or assert their rights.

For instance, the association recently assisted a Vietnamese man who had gone unpaid for three months after an abrupt job loss, struggling primarily due to his limited Japanese proficiency. Yoshimizu Jiho of the Japan Vietnam Tomoiki Association explains the systemic abuse, suggesting that companies exploit the Gijinkoku visa as an easier alternative to the technical intern training program, which has stricter regulatory demands.

Looking forward, the Japanese government plans to reform its technical intern training program by 2027. As companies increasingly rely on the Gijinkoku visa to plug labor shortages, instances of workers being misallocated to roles remain prevalent. Addressing these gaps, experts like consultant Ikebe Shoichiro call for enhanced oversight to protect foreign laborers from exploitation.

In response, Japan's Immigration Bureau has committed to intensifying inspections and taking punitive measures against firms violating labor regulations. This action is a crucial step in safeguarding foreign workers as Japan's dependency on their labor continues to rise amidst pressing workforce shortages.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-05-15