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Report

Symposium on “Immigrant Workers from Global South to Japan, Taiwan and South Korea: Present situations and future challenges”

On 22 August 2024, the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO), Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF), and Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo (IASA) cohosted an international Symposium titled “Immigrant Workers from Global South to Japan, Taiwan and South Korea: Present situations and future challenges.” This page provides summaries of the discussions and presentations delivered during the Symposium.

Overview of the Symposium

Date and time: Thursday, 22 August 2024, 10:00-17:00 (JST)

Organizers:
Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO)
Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF)
Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo (IASA)

Venue: Main Conference Room (3F), Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo

Program

Agenda Speakers
Opening remarks
  • Fukunari Kimura (President, IDE-JETRO)
  • H.H. Michael Hsiao (Chairman, TAEF)
  • Shigeto Sonoda (Professor, IASA)
Outline of symposium
  • Yukihito Sato (Chief Senior Researcher, IDE-JETRO)
  • H.H. Michael Hsiao (Chairman, TAEF)
Session I Japan, Taiwan and South Korea from the perspective of the sending countries Moderator: Toshihisa Nakamura (Research Management Officer, IDE-JETRO)
Presentation 1 “Mobility of Indonesian Migrant Health Workers to Taiwan and Japan: Perspectives from the Sending Country
  • Ferry Efendi (Associate Professor, Airlangga University)
Presentation 2 “Mongolian Migrant Workers under the Employment Permit System in South Korea: Focusing on Sending/ Receiving Policies based on the Governments’ Bilateral Agreements
  • Hiromu Fukai (Overseas Research Fellow, IDE-JETRO)
Comment
  • An-chun Cheng (Research Fellow, Chiba University)
Q&A and discussion
Lunch break
Session II Taiwan's migration regime and immigrant workers' jobs and lives Moderator: Shigeto Sonoda (Professor, IASA)
Presentation 1 “When Japan Becomes the Top Choice for Migrant Workers
  • Yung-ta Chien (Journalist)
Presentation 2 “Migrant Labor Regime and Labor Market Intermediaries in the Taiwanese Semiconductor Industry
  • Tingchien Chen (Postdoctoral Researcher, National Changhua University of Education)
Comment
Q&A and discussion
Session III Jobs, lives and communities of immigrant workers in Japan Moderator: Yuko Tsujita (Senior Research Fellow, IDE-JETRO)
Presentation 1 “Deregulation of Migration and Care in Japan
  • Reiko Ogawa (Professor, Chiba University)
Presentation 2 “Foreign Labor Employment in Japanese Agriculture
Comment
  • Yung-ta Chien (Journalist)
  • Tingchien Chen (Postdoctoral Researcher, National Changhua University of Education)
Q&A and discussion
Break
Session IV Round Table discussion Moderator: Yukihito Sato (Chief Senior Researcher, IDE-JETRO)
Round Table discussion
  • H.H. Michael Hsiao (Chairman, TAEF)
  • Ferry Efendi (Associate Professor, Airlangga University)
  • An-chun Cheng (Research Fellow, Chiba University)
  • Shigeto Sonoda (Professor, IASA)
  • Yuko Tsujita (Senior Research Fellow, IDE-JETRO)
  • Reiko Ogawa (Professor, Chiba University)
  • Alan Yang(Executive Director, TAEF)
Closing remarks

Overall Summary

There have been increasing numbers of immigrant workers from the “Global South” to Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, which should continue in the future. This symposium aimed to analyze and understand the immigrant workers’ present situations in their destinations and the challenges the sending and receiving countries face.

First, we approached this issue from the viewpoints of the Global South, investigating the cases of Indonesians in Japan and Taiwan as well as Mongolians in South Korea. Second, we manifoldly examined immigrant workers’ situations in Taiwan through the case studies of Vietnamese and Philippine workers. Third, we argued about the diversified aspects of immigrant workers in Japan by looking at different sectors such as care services and agriculture. Finally, in the roundtable discussion, we succeeded in deepening our understanding of the roles of the receiving countries’ governments and finding the subjects that will continue to be studied.

Dr. Yukihito Sato

Dr. Yukihito Sato

Dr. Fukunari Kimura

Dr. Fukunari Kimura

Dr. H.H. Michael Hsiao

Dr. H.H. Michael Hsiao  

Dr. Shigeto Sonoda

Dr. Shigeto Sonoda

Session I Japan, Taiwan and South Korea from the Perspective of the Sending Countries

The presentation on Indonesian nurses working as nurses or long-term care workers in Japan and Taiwan noted that their experiences in both countries share many similarities, including reasons for migration, workplace and daily life challenges, and deskilling upon arrival. However, the national examination system and the associated education and training were regarded as better in Japan. The discussion also addressed the challenges of maximizing the benefits of migration for both the sending country and the individuals involved.

The presentation on Mongolian workers in South Korea provided an overview of the “Employment Permit System (EPS),” managed by the South Korean Government, detailing the process from recruiting unskilled workers to their eventual return home. Mongolia, one of the countries in South Korea that holds a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding, was discussed as an example. The presentation also clarified the historical background of migration from Mongolia to South Korea, as well as the current challenges faced by migrant workers, including those outside the EPS.

Session I Japan, Taiwan and South Korea from the Perspective of the Sending Countries

Session II Taiwan's Migration Regime and Immigrant Workers' Jobs and Lives

This session explored the multi-facets of immigrant workers in Taiwan. The first presentation highlighted the disadvantaged and hazardous work environments Vietnamese workers face. The second presentation examined Philippine workers in Taiwan’s semiconductor factories, revealing the complex, multilayered international regime governing immigrant labor. As the commentator noted, both presentations focused on brokers and intermediaries, who present a major challenge due to their exploitation of immigrant workers through high agency fees. At the same time, they play a positive role in matching immigrant workers with Taiwanese employers. Notably, the first presentation underscored how Vietnamese workers have learned to protest unfair conditions and request improvements inspired by Taiwan’s civil society.

Session II Taiwan's Migration Regime and Immigrant Workers' Jobs and Lives

Session III Jobs, Lives and Communities of Immigrant Workers in Japan

Migrant workers in Japan have become increasingly prominent in the long-term care and agriculture sectors, both of which face serious labor shortages due to the declining birthrate and aging population. Consequently, the number of migrant workers in these sectors has risen significantly in recent years.

In the long-term care sector, it was noted that, despite opportunities for career development and pathways to permanent residency or other long-term residence statuses, the increase in migrant workers has not been necessarily matched by adequate protections or respect for their human rights. In the agriculture sector, the role of migrant labor intermediaries in Japan was examined, emphasizing their capacity to meet various demands related to the number of migrant workers, their skill levels, and the timing of their employment, depending on factors such as the size of the farming operation.

There was a lively discussion comparing Japan’s multiple pathways for receiving migrant workers with Taiwan’s reception system, highlighting each system’s unique characteristics and the diverse range of domestic agents involved based on the requirements of the companies seeking to employ them.

Session III Jobs, Lives and Communities of Immigrant Workers in Japan

Session IV Round Table Discussion

In the final roundtable discussion, the important issues were picked up from the three sessions. It was a fair recruiting system for immigrant workers that was argued actively. The Dacca Principle was introduced as a standard for assessing systems. Regarding the Principle, one discussant indicated that gender should be considered. At the same time, the other pointed out it can be used to assess whether corporations follow it and whether governments construct institutions to urge them to follow it.

One of the other focuses is the roles of governments. One discussant maintained that government-to-government systems could be fairer than private systems, although the other insisted that government-to-government systems could not guarantee fairness ideally.

Competition among the receiving countries was also discussed. One discussant asked what appeal Japan and Taiwan have for immigrant workers compared to South Korea, which attracts workers through Korean TV dramas and K-pop. This point also led to reform of the receiving countries’ systems. Finally, one comment to be noted is that the nonexperts’ simple and basic questions can sometimes contribute to deepening discussion about this issue. At the same time, experts usually argue it is only because labor migration is complicated and requires a lot of technical knowledge.

Session IV Round Table Discussion

Contact
Research Development Division
Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO)
Tel: +81 (0)43-299-9667  Fax:043-299-9731
E-mail:R_promo2E-mail

*This event was sponsored by Grant-in Aid of Global South Future-oriented Co-creation Project FY2024.

*The views expressed in the webpage are those of the presenter(s) and neither the Institute of Developing Economies nor the Japan External Trade Organization bears responsibility for them.