On July 8, 2012, Ms. Chantana Boonart, Minister Counsellor (Labour Affairs) of Office of Labour Affairs in Japan, and Ms. Malee Wadah, assistant for oversea employment promotion, attended work safety and living campaign organized by IM Japan at Kami Koen Sogo Center in Shizuoka prefecture’s Hamamatsu city, some 260 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, at the invitation of IM Japan.
The work safety and living campaign was held for Thai and Indonesian trainees in Shizuoka prefecture. IM Japan generally holds such a campaign for foreign trainees in each prefecture during July-August period every year. Some 150 foreign trainees, including 50 Thais, joined this year campaign, which was chaired by Ms. Yukie Fujikawa, managing director of IM Japan’s receipt firm.
Ms. Chantana Boonart, Minister Counsellor (Labour Affairs), and Mr. Dwatmaji Hamomanresi, Advisor to Indonesian Embassy in Japan, were invited to address trainees from both countries. This provided an opportunity for Office of Labour Affairs in Japan to meet and discuss with Thai trainees about their living and training.
The objective of the campaign was to educate foreign trainees about work safely, occupational sanitation, and living and to raise their awareness about work safety. Police officers from Nishi Hamamatsu station were invited to give lecture about traffic safety, particularly bicycle road rules, to foreign trainees. Participating trainees were also asked to demonstrate how to ride a bicycle safely, making the lecture more entertaining. The lecture drew a lot of attention from trainees.
At the event, Ms. Yukie also gave a certificate to trainees, including three Thais, who passed Japanese language test. Trainees who passed the test at N2 level were also given 30,000 yen reward while those who passed the test at N3 level were awarded 10,000 yen. The reward would give trainee incentive to improve their Japanese and make them proud.
Ms. Chantana and Ms. Malee also had lunch with the Thai trainees. They asked the trainees about their living and told them to work hard to complete their training course. All the Thai trainees said they had no difficulty in training and living.
Office of Labour Affairs in Japan also gave the trainees snacks and Thai magazines and newspaper.
