JAPAN!VISIT!2016! “Beyond!‘Tolerance’:!Working ... · PDF...

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JAPAN VISIT 2016

“Beyond ‘Tolerance’: Working hand-‐in-‐hand to promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families”

Image: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” participants visiting the Kalabaw – no – Kai in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Overview

• Purpose: To better understand issues of social inclusion and exclusion for migrants

and their families in Japan. • Date: 22nd – 26th July 2016 • Location: Kanakawa Prefecture, Tokyo, and Kyoto Prefecture, Japan • Host Organization: Meiji Gakuin University • Project Partners: 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, MAP Foundation, Legal

Support for Children and Women, Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center • Participants: Members of 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, MAP Foundation,

Legal Support for Children and Women, MMN Secretariat • Funder: The Toyota Foundation

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Introduction The Mekong Migration Network (MMN) is a network of regional and national civil society groups and research organizations from across the Greater Mekong Sub-‐region. The network was established in 2003 to act as a platform for member organizations to exchange information and conduct cross-‐border projects advocating for migrants’ protection . MMN carries out activities in the areas of joint information monitoring, research, capacity building and advocacy. One of MMN current joint projects is “Beyond ‘Tolerance’: Working hand-‐in-‐hand to promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families.” Financially supported by the Toyota Foundation, “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” strives to better understand and promote social inclusion of migrants and their families while addressing the causes of social exclusion. These themes are being explored in the context of the origin countries, such as Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as the destination countries, such as Thailand and Japan. Coordinated by the MMN Regional Coordinator, Ms. Reiko Harima, the core project partners include: Ms. Thet Thet Aung from the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Burma/Myanmar); Mr. Brahm Press from the MAP Foundation (Thailand); Mr. Sopheap Suong from the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center (CWCC)(Cambodia); Mr. Sokchar Mom from Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW) (Cambodia); and Ms. Yuriko Saito from Meiji Gakuin University (Japan). Having gained knowledge on the subject in previous visits to Thailand, Cambodia and Burma/Myanmar, the “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” team visited Kanagawa Prefecture, Tokyo, and Kyoto Prefecture for five days. The aim was to expand their understanding of issues of social inclusion and exclusion for migrants and their families in the context of Japan. From the 22nd to the 26th July, the project team took part in the symposium titled: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’: Working hand-‐in-‐hand to promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families”. The symposium was hosted by MMN in collaboration with the Faculty of International Studies at Meiji Gakuin University. In those dates, participants also met with representatives of Kanagawa International Foundation (KANAFAN) in Kanagawa prefecture and met with CSOs providing assistance to migrant workers in Kanagawa and Kyoto prefecture to exchang information. Participants also had the opportunity to visit a factory hosting Myanmar migrants under the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) and participants spoke with Myanmar migrant workers in Komatsu City. “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” project partners will use the information they gained throughout the week to finalize the country chapter on Japan for the project’s advocacy paper. Findings from these visits and additional interviews will be used to write the advocacy paper and create a multimedia presentation promoting the social inclusion of migrants. The multimedia presentation will be shown at roundtable discussions and photo exhibitions in Bangkok (Thailand), Yangon (Myanmar), and Phnom Penh (Cambodia), in October 2016.

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Day 1: Learning about a Government–NGO Partnership & Participating in a Symposium Kanagawa International Foundation (KANAFAN) On the 22ndJuly, “Beyond ‘Tolerance’”project partners had the opportunity to visit the Kanagawa International Foundation (KANAFAN). KANAFAN was established in 1977 and it was the first example of civil society organizations (CSO) collaborating with a prefecture administration office. The Foundation aims to build mutual understanding between Japanese and non-‐Japanese residents, to promote a multicultural community and to increase the accessibility of government assistance to non-‐Japanese people in Kanagawa. KANAFAN main activities include:

• (1) Sharing information through social media (i.e. Facebook, SMS and blogs on several issues). Translation of texts into foreign languages such as Chinese, Portuguese or English, depending on the size of the foreign population in the area. In order to improve their services, KANAFAN sends a feedback questionnaire to their users once a year to evaluate what kind of information is needed.

• (2) Providing a multi-‐lingual digital medical dictionary that can be used in every health department in Japan . The healthcare support will be translated into English and other eighteen languages.

• (3) Japanese language classes and information (both online and offline) on opportunities to learn Japanese language.

• (4) Coordinating with the local government to provide support for Non-‐Japanese in the areas hit by natural disasters, and giving information concerning safety and relevant issues.

• (5) Empowerment of migrant mothers. This new project aims to provide guidance for migrant mothers on how to educate or look after their children (i.e regular vaccination, status/documents, enrollment to school etc.). The project also provides scholarships for nursery schools for children with migrant mothers on nursery teacher to children of migrant mother.

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Image: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” participants visiting the KANAFAN office in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

The participants also learned about current trends on migration to Japan. For example, despite moving to Japan through regular channels, migrants end up working without documents due to visa restrictions. It appears obvious that the Japanese government favors the skilled workers over the unskilled workers. During the visit, it emerged that the key challenges faced by migrant workers in Japan are linked to the difficulty in obtaining work permit, as they have to rely on employers, as well as low wages, no labour rights protection, complicated and time consuming procedures to apply for asylum status. As an example of social inclusion and exclusion, Mr. Jigyan Kumar Thapa, the representative of KANAFAN, shared his experiences about living in Japan: although he has lived in Japan for more than sixteen years, local people still ask him when he is planning to go home. He added that the Japanese community cannot be considered a ‘migrant friendly’ community. Even though only a few migrants do not follow Japanese laws/policies, the Japanese community makes generalizations on the migrants coming from the same countries. It also appears that sometimes the Japanese are less aware of the rights of foreigners than the rights of Japanese people. However, when the natural disaster occurred, Japanese and non-‐Japanese people supported each other. Mr. Jigyan Kumar Thapa shared with the team that in order to promote social inclusion, it is important to raise awareness in the Japanese community about foreign cultures and to encourage the dialogue with the government about policies. A Symposium on “Beyond ‘Tolerance’: Working hand-‐in-‐hand to promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families” at Meiji Gakuin University

On 22nd July, the Mekong Migration Network (MMN) in collaboration with the Faculty of International Studies at Meiji Gakuin University in Kanagawa (Japan) organized a symposium titled: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’: Working hand-‐in-‐hand to promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families.”

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Over forty people, including representatives of non-‐governmental organizations (NGOs), self-‐help groups, universities, and research institutes, attended the symposium. The symposium began by welcoming participants representing the Faculty of International Studies at Meiji Gakuin University, followed by an introduction of MMN project. In the first session of the symposium, three MMN project partners gave presentations on issues related to labour migration in the Mekong Sub-‐region and on Japan in the era of globalization. The session was followed by presentations from representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) working on migration issues in Japan.

Link to the symposium minutes: http://www.mekongmigration.org/?p=5288

Day 2: Visits to CSOs in Kanagawa Prefecture Kalabaw–no–Kai On the 23rd July, participants visited the Kalabaw–no–Kai organization, a Tagalog word meaning water buffalo. This word refers to the group of Filipino migrants the organization supported when it was first founded. Kalabaw was founded in 1987, and it is now a well–known organization that provides assistance to workers and migrant workers on labour rights, legal assistance, welfare, education and provides language classes. They also assist undocumented migrant workers by circulating phone numbers and by providing assistance for workers, inviting them to the office if they live nearby.

Image: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” participants visiting the Kalabaw – no – Kai in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

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Mr. Hideyoshi Watanabe reflected on the fact that Japanese society highly needs migrant labour force, but the Japanese government does not recognize migrant workers as human beings, but only as labour force. Given the language barrier and the fact that the society is generally not open to foreigners, migrants live experiences of social exclusion and discrimination both in the work place and in everyday life, including the migrants who arrive to Japan through the Technical Internship Program. Mr. Watanabe emphasized that labour exploitation, lack of labour protection and fear of immediate dismiss and deportation remain the main concerns faced by migrant workers in Japan. For instance, migrant workers under TIP program could be employed in the high technology industry, but in reality they are only employed in agriculture or in the fishing industry. The program benefits employers from small companies that used to hire one-‐day workers, and are now looking for cheap labour, but the TIP contract only lasts threeyears for migrant workers. Technical trainees are often confined in small places, their passport is confiscated, they are unable to contact the world outside for assistance, not to mention the low pay, long working hours, etc. Following this, Kalabaw provides shelter for trainees who escaped from the factories and help negotiate with the employers. Kalabaw also advocates for better responses of the Japanese government to labour exploitation.

Health of Migrants in Japan

In the afternoon session, the project partners had the opportunity to meet Dr. Takashi Sawada, from the Minatomachi Medical Center and Multi-‐cultural Information Center Kanagawa, to discuss the health issues faced by migrants in Japan. Dr. Sawada gave a brief overview on the health key factors relevant to migrants, such as infant mortality rate, completion rate of TB treatment by nationality and age, death rate between Japanese and Non-‐Japanese etc. These factors reveal that for migrants there are still barriers to access healthcare services.

Following this, Dr. Sawada talked about the initiatives that aim at minimizing health gaps and providing healthcare services to migrant workers, including Medical Interpreter Program (MIC) in Kanagawa prefecture. The program started in 2001, under the memorandum of understanding between the local government, NGOs and Medical Associations, in order to provide medical volunteer interpreters in hospitals. There are currently 173 volunteer interpreters who speak about eleven languages, Dr. Sawada also highlighted the self-‐help group called “Taa Wan”, a group of Thai patients living with HIV/AIDS, who are also volunteer interpreters at the hospital. In addition, members of the “Taa Wan” group regularly visit the prefecture, they help providing information and campaign on HIV/AIDS prevention.

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Image: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” participants meeting with Dr. Takashi Sawada, the Minatomachi Medical Center

and Multi-‐cultural Information Center Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Dr. Sawada emphasized that NGO-‐GO collaboration is effective to develop social resources in order to improve access to healthcare for migrants, and peer support is one of the most effective actions to minimize health disadvantages.

Day 3: Site Visits to a Factory in Komatsu City

Teijin Company & Shinwakosen Factory On the 24th July, the participants travelled to Komatsu city to meet with the representatives of the Teijin Campany & Shinwakosen factory. The factory recruits Myanmar trainees. The Shinwakosen factory produces polyester thread used for textile of sportsware. In April 2006, the factory joined the TIP program and the first group of trainees recruited was from China. The factory has recruited twelve trainees from the TIP program, eight of the trainees are from Myanmar (two women and six men). The factory runs 24 hours, but the night shifts and weekend shifts are usually short of labour, as the Japanese laborers do not want to work at night, and Japanese female workers do not want to work at weekends, even if they only do day shifts during the week. The representative of the factory shared that migrant trainees may learn the skill to choose good quality thread, as their factory produces only thread with high technology. The representative of the factory also shared that migrant trainees may not bring back to their country the specific technology, but they could apply their skills to their work in the factory branch in Yangon in the future. The factory in Japan will recommend the workers to the new factory. The representative of the factory ensured that the migrant trainees are protected by labour laws. However, the trainees receive a different salary from the workers, but they receive the same amount of money for overtime work.

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Image: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” participants visiting the Shinwakosen factory in Komatsu city, Japan.

The representative of the factory highlighted that they are involved in the recruitment process and they also send representatives to Myanmar to interview the potential migrant trainees. The potential migrant trainee, if successful, usually receives a job offer straight after the interview, but the work only starts after six months, as the factory needs to prepare the supporting documents. The factory is allowed to recruit a maximum of eighteen migrant trainees through this system, depending on the size of the business. The factory planned to recruit six trainees per year, with a contract of three years. However, given the time it takes to process, the factory tries to recruit trainees once a year, and not all six at the same time. The participant from Myanmar spoke with Myanmar migrant trainees, she learned abouttheir experiences. All the participants also had the opportunity to visit the factory, to see the working conditions and to visit the dormitory where migrant trainees stay.

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Image: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” participants meeting with Myanmar trainees of the Shinwakosen factory,

Komatsu city, Japan.

Day 4: Visits to CSOs in Kyoto Prefecture

The Kyoto YWCA On the 25th July, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Kyoto YWCA, where the CSOs provide support to the migrants living in the Kyoto prefecture, especially migrant women married to Japanese citizens. The Kyoto YWCA representative provided an overview of the migrants in Kyoto and introduced the program called “Asian People Together (APT)”. The APT aims to promote a multicultural society by providing support to foreign residents in Japan through a hotline. The volunteers in the APT program provide different services, such as information on Japanese Laws, referral to specialist, etc. Currently, APT program can provide services in five languages. The Kyoto YWCA also provides assistance to migrant women, including information and legal support on issues related to visa, renting, children’s education, domestic violence and medical care. The participants also learned that embassies play a central role in protecting and assisting migrant women in Japan. Participants also had the opportunity to meet migrant women who married Japanese citizens, and have now become volunteer interpreters for YMWA and sometimes help the local government too. Participants heard their stories and learned about the situation in Japan.

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Image: “Beyond ‘Tolerance’” participants visiting the Kyoto YWCA, Japan.

Day 5: Internal Planning Meeting

On the last day of the Japan visit, participants discussed and provided comments on the country chapter draft in the advocacy paper. Participants agreed on the work plan for the submission of the advocacy paper from each project partner/country. Participants also discussed about the outcomes of the multimedia presentation, as well as the production process. Participants also agreed on the work plan for the photo exhibitions in October 2016.

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APPENDIX A

Japan Visit Agenda

“Beyond Tolerance” -‐ Working hand-‐in-‐hand to promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families

Location: Kanagawa prefecture, Kyoto prefecture, and Tokyo

Host organization: Meiji Gakuin University

Program Visit Japan (22 -‐ 26 July 2016) Morning Afternoon Evening Hotel

21-‐Jul TG581arrive Haneda, move to Totsuka St.

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Totsuka

22-‐Jul

6:05 Thet Thet Aung arrive (Yuriko Pick up) 9:30 Dep. For Yokohama 10:00-‐11:00 Activate JR rail pass 11:00-‐12:15: Interview a representative of the Kanagawa Interntional Foundation, Mr Jigyan Kumar Thapa, near the Yokohama Station 12:15 Move Yokohama to Meijigakuin University

12:30-‐13:30 Lunch at Meijigakuin University 13:30-‐15:00 Briefing about Japan's trip, preparation & Rest 15:05-‐16:35 Class "Life and Career Development " 16:45-‐19:15 Seminar on Migration in Mekong and Japan

19:15-‐19:45 Move to Restaurant @ Totsuka 19:30-‐21:00 Dinner with some guests (Chinese migrants)


23-‐Jul

7:00 leave the hotel 10:00 Meet representative of Kalabaw, Mr Hideyoshi Watanabe, Mr Ando, Ms Pachanda Karayaa,

Lunch and meeting with Dr.Takashi Sawada

Visiting migrants community


24-‐Jul

07:09 Totuka to Ueno (07:49) 08:18-‐11:34 Ueno-‐Kanazawa 11:03-‐11:34 Kanazawa -‐Komatsu

Visit Factory and Worker of Myanmar

Ppossibley meet Japan Association for Refugees-‐TBC

Komatsu Grande Hotel

25-‐Jul 7:32 Komatsu; arrive at Kyoto at 9:34 10:30 Visit YWCA-‐Kyoto

Meet migrant representatives at the YWCA-‐Kyoto (to be confirmed); travel to Tokyo

Hotel Edmont Metroporitan

26-‐Jul MMN project planning meeting @MGU room 1551

MMN project planning meeting @MGU room 1551

(not yet appointed)

Hotel Edmont Metroporitan

27-‐Jul Departure

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