The Labour Office in Japan led by Mr. Suchat Saengourai advisor (on labour), translator Miss. Jittrada Bumrungjit and general coordinator Mr. Niran Oumaemura visited Thai trainees in seafood processing at Choshi in Shiba province. The visit covered 12 seafood processing companies, totaling 49 Thai trainees.
Choshi Suisankakoren Kyodo Kumiai Company, an organization accepting Thai trainees and employers from all 12 companies said that the Thai trainees were very diligent and hardworking, causing no problems, adjusting to the Japanese working culture well and also engaged well with trainees from other nationalities including the Philippines, China and Vietnam as well as Japanese. In addition to this, the employers conveyed interest for more Thai trainees.
The Thai trainees expressed they happiness towards the work environment, telling the representatives from the Labour Office that during the winter, temperatures are between 0 to 5 degrees Celsius, and whilst working with frozen foods throughout the day, they are exposed to temperatures of up to -25 degrees Celsius, and thus have tried to adjust to the very low temperatures. Many of the trainees wanted to work in Japan and hoped to train for more than 3 years. Earnings after deducting expenses such as insurance (health insurance, unemployment insurance etc.), taxes and others, the Thai trainees would be left with approximately 80,000 – 170,000 Yen per month, depending on how much overtime they would have to work.
The Japanese Labour Office stated that the work was in accordance to Japanese laws, whereby the trainees would be able to train in Japan for only one time and not exceeding a duration of three years. They said that if there were to be an extended time period then the Japanese government would have to formally announce it. As for working overtime, the Japanese laws state a maximum of 45 hours per month. The Labour Office also explained this to the organizations and employers.
Furthermore, the Labour Office in Japan shared words of encouragement to the trainees, motivating them to continue working hard and accumulate savings as the Yen has depreciated significantly, meaning that income being sent back home would be less even though the amount in Yen remains the same. The Labour Office also encouraged the workers to practice Japanese language skills when free and to beware of mischief in the workplace or any illegal misconduct. They reiterated that if the trainees ever needed help or did not understand any of the laws, to contact the Labour Office in Japan at the address on the provided name cards. The Labour Office also distributed Thai newspapers and Buddhist scripture to give morale to trainees working abroad, also aligning to the 5 Commandments Project by the Minister of Labour, General Surasak Karnjanarat.
