Technical Intern Training
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What is "Technical Intern Training"?
The Technical Intern Training Program was launched in 1993 with the stated purpose of accepting workers from developing countries, allowing them to acquire skills and knowledge in Japan, and then contribute to the development of their home countries upon return.
In practice, however, the program has increasingly served as a means of supplementing Japan’s labor shortages. It has been used particularly in sectors such as construction, agriculture, caregiving, and garment manufacturing, which struggle to attract domestic workers. Many trainees come from countries like Vietnam, China, and the Philippines.
At the same time, serious problems have been reported, including low wages, long working hours, and human rights violations due to restrictions on changing employers. Harsh working conditions and unpaid wages have led many trainees to flee from their workplaces, and internationally the program has been criticized as a form of “modern slavery.”
In response to these realities, the Japanese government has been working on reforms. In 2023, an expert panel recommended abolishing the current system and introducing a new “Training and Employment Program,” which would, under certain conditions, allow trainees more freedom to change jobs. From 2024 onward, related legal revisions are expected, signaling a broader reconsideration of Japan’s labor policies and its approach to accepting foreign workers.