Japanese government orders Mitsubishi Motors to stop taking foreign interns

KUALA LUMPUR: Four companies’ internships for foreign technical trainees have been cancelled due to the order of the Japanese government. The main reason behind this order is improper behaviour with the workers.

The companies given the order are Panasonic and Mitsubishi Motors, along with the two smaller companies - Aisin Sinwa and Daibari. Aisin Sinwa is a metal processing company and has its presence in the auto parts sector, while the Daibari is a construction company.

Also, the organizations have been banned from hiring workers from overseas for the next five years. This restriction will be implemented from April 2019 onwards. Also, a new visa category will be allowed for workers in 14 sectors, which will work as the solution of the labour shortage in Japan.

A total of 136 interns will be affected by the decision taken by the Welfare Ministry and Ministry of Justice and the Health, Labour in Japan. Among these interns, 27 are from Mitsubishi Philippines.

The Mitsubishi had appointed these interns for the semi-automatic welding, while it forced the trainee’s to perform in parts assembling. This action has been caught on the spot by the Foreign Skill Practice Training Association’s members and Justice Ministry officials at the time of inspection.

Mitsubishi has been found guilty of misusing trainees from 2008 to 2018. The total number of affected interns are yet to be known. The manufacturer said that it has started working on a prevention plan as the complaints have been taken in a serious manner. It will conduct thorough training internally.