Yet another example of unethical Japan and the pattern of bad behaviour

Hitachi, 10 group firms caught using foreign trainees illegally

Hitachi Ltd and its 10 group firms have been slapped with improvement orders for using foreign trainees illegally, including paying them less than the minimum wage, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.

It found technical interns engaged in work outside the remit of their training programs, in violation of a law on the government-sponsored scheme, the sources said.

The technical internship program, introduced in 1993 to transfer skills in Japan to developing countries, has faced criticism at home and abroad over perceptions it is used as a cover for companies to import cheap labor.

Many companies in Japan depend on the trainees amid a severe labor crunch in the rapidly aging country, but long working hours and harsh conditions have been reported by recruits.