By HIDESHI NISHIMOTO/ Staff Writer
May 7, 2022 at 17:20 JST
A Vietnamese technical intern who endured two years of physical abuse while working at an Okayama-based construction company reached a settlement with his former bosses as well as the supervising organization that arranged the placement.
The 41-year-old man eventually found refuge with Fukuyama Union Tanpopo, a labor union based in Hiroshima Prefecture.
Union officials said a settlement was reached with Six Create, a construction company based in Okayama city, and the supervising organization also headquartered in Okayama Prefecture.
It said the company had apologized to the Vietnamese man for the abuse and that the organization had also apologized for failing to provide the proper support.
The two bodies will also pay compensation.
A lawyer for Six Create refused to respond to questions from The Asahi Shimbun.
However, the supervising organization said the matter had been settled amicably although it declined to divulge details, citing privacy issues.
The man came to Japan in October 2019 and began his training with Six Create, mainly helping to erect scaffolding at construction sites.
According to Fukuyama Union Tanpopo officials, Japanese workers at the construction company began physically abusing the Vietnamese man soon after he started. On one occasion, he sustained three broken ribs when he was beaten to the ground and kicked with steel-toed protective footwear.
The union obtained video of the abuse experienced by the man and released it in January.
One video shows the man being hit with a broom while trying to unload objects from a truck.
In February, the Immigration Services Agency and labor ministry revoked Six Create’s approval for its technical intern training plan on grounds of gross infringement of human rights.
In April, the Vietnamese man resumed his intern training at a construction company in Hiroshima city. He said he enjoyed his new workplace and that his health had improved.
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A video obtained by a Hiroshima labor union shows the Vietnamese technical intern trainee, right, suffering physical abuse. (Provided by Fukuyama Union Tanpopo)
