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Japan’s Technical Interns Could More Easily Switch Jobs Under New Proposal
Japan’s technical interns, some of whom suffer horrible abuses from their employers, may soon find it easier to find a new job.
Foreign technical interns meeting relaxed language criteria in Japan may be able to change jobs if a proposal submitted today is approved by the Cabinet. The revision to Japan’s technical intern training program will free many trainees from abuse of power by employers by giving them options.
LDP reviews revision to allow job change
A government advisory panel will seek approval from the ruling LDP on February 5th to introduce proposals to revise Japan’s technical intern training program.
The Cabinet’s move to enact revisions would allow trainees to switch jobs after one to two years, provided they have certified proficiency at the CEFR A1 to A2 levels. That’s equivalent to levels N5 to N4 of the Japanese Language Profiency Test (JLPT).
The program has not allowed job transfers for three years in its maximum five years of training since taking off in 1993. This leads to technical trainees feeling trapped under abusive employers. About 9,000 trainees in 2022 alone fled from their jobs and disappeared in Japan, an increase of 2,000 from the previous year.
