A Workforce Under Siege
For a decade, Vietnamese worker Minh performed grueling tasks like sandblasting ships and welding steel to support Japan’s rapidly aging economy. But now, having overstayed his visa, he finds himself in the crosshairs of a promised government crackdown on illegal workers. Minh, a pseudonym used to protect his identity, arrived in Japan in 2015 under the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP). This scheme is officially designed to help foreign workers learn skills to take back to developing countries. Critics argue it effectively serves as a pipeline for cheap labor, leaving workers vulnerable to debt and exploitation. Minh, a former intern living near Tokyo, feels the public often misses the broader context of their situation.
“A lot of Japanese people look only at the surface — that foreigners committed crimes. They don’t think about the root cause of it: how and why these foreigners got to that point.”
Since taking office, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has vowed action, promising a policy package that will reportedly include stricter visa management. This political shift comes as the number of foreign workers hits record levels, driven by a demographic crisis that makes foreign labor essential for the nation’s survival.
The Demographic Imperative
Japan faces a severe labor shortage resulting from a demographic collapse. According to the Japanese Ministry of Labor, the population peaked at 128.06 million in 2010 and has fallen steadily. Projections indicate it will drop to just 95.15 million by 2050. This decline is accompanied by a dramatic shift in age structure. The working-age population peaked at 69.5% in 1990 and is expected to shrink to just 51.8% by 2050, while the elderly population is projected to rise to nearly 40% of the total.
This nationwide crunch impacts even major urban centers like Tokyo. The continued migration of young people from rural areas to cities accelerates the demographic collapse, making it increasingly difficult to secure a sufficient workforce. Consequently, bringing in foreign labor has become the most effective solution to sustain Japan’s economy. Data from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry shows the number of foreign workers increased from 787,000 in 2014 to 2.302 million in 2024. Of these, Vietnamese workers constitute the largest group at roughly 25%, followed by workers from China and the Philippines.
While fearing China’s influence, Japan has strategically opened its doors to Vietnamese workers. Vietnam has emerged as a key partner in this strategy. This explains why, despite ongoing controversies surrounding labor violations, Japan continues to accept large numbers of workers from a country it recently elevated to the status of a comprehensive strategic partner.
The Heavy Burden of Debt
While Japan opens its doors, Vietnamese citizens face significant hurdles before they even arrive. One of the biggest challenges is the exorbitant brokerage fees charged by recruitment agencies in Vietnam. These fees, which the Japanese government does not impose, place a heavy financial burden on workers before they leave their home country. A 2022 survey by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency found that Vietnamese technical interns paid an average of 656,014 yen in fees. This amount is significantly higher than what their Cambodian or Chinese counterparts pay.
A 2023 report by the International Labour Organization painted an even grimmer picture, finding the average fee was equivalent to 26 months of Vietnam’s minimum wage. Haruki Kondo, a labor policy researcher at the nonprofit organization POSSE, noted this debt is mainly covered by high-interest loans. After factoring in living expenses, many workers struggle to repay their debts. As their contracts near expiration, some feel forced to flee their official workplaces to go underground and work illegally simply to get out of debt. Kondo describes this situation as a form of modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
Minh’s experience reflects this reality. He intended to work to pay off the $7,500 he owed and send money to his family. But with opportunities scarce back home at the end of his three years, finding a welding job as an undocumented laborer proved much simpler.
Exploitation and Systemic Failures
Under the rules of the Technical Intern Training Programme, interns are effectively tied to their employers, unable to change jobs even if they are unhappy. Japan’s immigration agency reports that around 6,500 trainees disappeared from their workplaces last year. Absconders often turn to Facebook communities dubbed “Bodoi” — a vernacular term for “soldiers” — to look for black market jobs.
Jiho Yoshimizu, head of the Tokyo-based non-profit Japan Vietnam Tomoiki Association, supports Vietnamese nationals in distress. She notes that while many employers are conscientious, common complaints include low wages, sub-par housing, and sexual harassment.
“Some technical interns are stuck in conditions that they just have to flee. Those who find these unofficial gigs can get by, but those who don’t can be driven into committing crimes like selling drugs.”
Yoshimizu also highlights a growing problem with the “Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services” visa. This category, intended for skilled professionals, has seen a surge in misuse. Some companies, struggling with serious labor shortages, take advantage of a loophole in the system. One of the organization’s clients came to Japan as a skilled worker after paying more than $7,000 in commission fees. She was put to work cleaning restaurants and hotels, work that should legally be done only by technical interns.
The Psychological Toll
The stress of these working conditions takes a severe mental health toll. A study published in a prominent psychiatry journal found that 37% of Vietnamese workers surveyed were grouped as distressed under the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). The study identified fewer opportunities to speak with Japanese co-workers, lower welfare ratings, and high workloads as factors significantly associated with this distress.
Surprisingly, those in the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” category — who are deemed to hold better conditions — demonstrated the highest amounts of distress. The study suggests that outside of unsatisfactory working environments, differing situations depending on status of residence could produce various sources of stress. The difficult aspects of Japan’s distinct culture seem to contribute to their distress, especially for those who have more interactions with Japanese co-workers.
Issues surrounding the mental health of these workers have become a serious concern. Migrant workers are regularly subjected to multifactorial stressors such as acculturation, language barriers, prejudice, discrimination, harassment, excessive overtime work, low wages, and exploitation. The Japanese phenomenon of “karoshi,” or death from overwork, and suicides among migrant workers have received increased media attention.
Crime Statistics vs. Public Perception
Despite the economic necessity of foreign workers, public sentiment is turning. Immigration levels in Japan remain low compared to other rich economies. However, with an ageing population and dwindling real salaries, resentment towards foreign workers has swelled. Yoshimizu observes that anger at Japanese people’s own financial struggles is often taken out on foreigners.
Police data shows that among foreigners arrested in 2024, excluding permanent residents, Vietnamese topped the list at over 30%. This figure is partly explained by the surging number of Vietnamese nationals in the country, which has increased ninefold over the last decade. They now make up a quarter of Japan’s 2.3-million-strong foreign workforce.
However, the proportion of crimes committed by non-Japanese remains low. Just 5.5% of the roughly 190,000 people arrested in 2024 for penal code offences were foreigners. Despite the statistics showing that Japan remains one of the world’s most law-abiding countries, a gap exists between reality and perception. This sentiment has intensified following high-profile incidents, such as the arrest of a Vietnamese trainee in July for robbing and murdering a Japanese woman.
Political Winds and Policy Shifts
The issue of foreign workers has become a hot topic in the political arena. In the July 2025 House of Councillors election, whether Japan should continue to accept more foreign workers or curb intake became a key issue. The conservative party Sanseito gained significant support by advocating a “Japanese First” policy and campaigning on opposition to the “excessive acceptance” of foreigners. In response, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party released a pledge for “zero illegal foreigners,” calling for stricter screenings.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has acknowledged the labor shortage is getting worse. His administration approved guidelines for a refurbished plan to support the development of foreign workers into skilled workers, expected to kick off in 2027. This new initiative will replace the current foreign trainee program. The government plans to transition TITP into a new system called the “Employment for Skill Development” program, which offers more flexibility for job transfers but imposes stricter requirements on Japanese language skills.
However, Japan’s ability to attract talent is challenged by global competition. The yen’s weakness has devalued remittances sent home, and increasing competition from labor markets such as South Korea and Taiwan is making Japan less attractive. Immigration expert Jotaro Kato notes that Japan’s program is increasingly reliant on Vietnamese applicants with less motivation and educational qualifications than before.
Voices from the Community
Amid the policy debates and statistics, individual stories of resilience and struggle continue to unfold. Vietnamese nun Thich Tam Tri, whose temple north of Tokyo offers shelter to her compatriots in trouble, emphasizes the positive contributions of the workers.
“Technical interns contribute greatly to Japanese society. It pains me to see how one bad headline can easily prejudice Japanese people against them.”
She acknowledges that some interns make poor choices, falling into debt through gambling or ill-advised ventures, but insists the majority are hardworking. She argues that the community must work to normalize their image.
“That’s why we have to do as many good deeds as possible to normalize this image of us, and regain the trust of Japanese people.”
The business community also recognizes the vital role these workers play. Across factory floors, construction sites, and hospitals, migrant workers help keep the economy moving. Companies like Koganei Seiki in Saitama Prefecture rely heavily on Vietnamese engineers to manufacture precision parts. Without them, many industries would face immediate paralysis.
The Road to Reform
The Japanese government is attempting to address these contradictions through reform. The new “control tower” organization at the Cabinet Secretariat aims to manage policies related to foreign residents comprehensively to realize an orderly, symbiotic society. The 2027 reform aims to treat foreign workers as employees rather than trainees, theoretically granting them more rights and protections.
Nevertheless, experts argue that more oversight is urgently needed to protect these workers. The Japan Vietnam Tomoiki Association stresses that the country’s current visa system needs a safety net. They point out that the skilled worker visa category does not require a high level of language ability, leaving some workers unable to speak Japanese and vulnerable to exploitation by companies that take advantage of their lack of support.
As Japan grapples with its shrinking workforce, the nation must balance economic necessity with social cohesion. The challenge lies in creating a system that respects the rights and dignity of workers like Minh while ensuring the safety and prosperity of the communities they serve.
Key Points
- Vietnamese workers make up the largest group of foreign laborers in Japan, accounting for about 25% of the 2.3 million foreign workforce.
- Many workers arrive heavily indebted, paying brokerage fees that average 656,014 yen, which can lead to exploitation and forced labor.
- The Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) is criticized for tying workers to employers and preventing job changes, leading to high rates of absconding.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has promised a crackdown on illegal workers, reflecting rising public resentment despite crime statistics showing foreign involvement is relatively low.
- The Japanese government plans to replace TITP with a new “Employment for Skill Development” system in 2027 to allow greater job mobility and improve protections.
- Psychological distress is high among Vietnamese workers, with 37% reporting significant stress due to work conditions, cultural barriers, and isolation.
