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Fewer foreign trainees at hospitals
The number of Japanese medical institutions and other entities accepting Indonesians and Filipinos training to qualify as nurses or caregivers in fiscal 2010 will fall sharply compared with the current fiscal year. Language problems apparently proved to be an insurmountable barrier for some. According to the Japan International Corp. of Welfare Services, only 62 entities…
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Being low-paid male temp probably spells bachelorhood
Being a temp comes with a number of drawbacks: a lack of job security, often low pay — and if you’re a man, anyway, little chance of tying the knot. So says the latest labor ministry survey, released Wednesday, which found that out of some 700 single, male temporary workers aged 20 to 34 who…
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Ruling coalition, Komeito propose 23 bil. yen settlement for JR dispute
The three ruling parties and an opposition party on Thursday presented the government with a proposal for a 23 billion yen settlement package to resolve a 23-year-old dispute over Japan Railway companies’ refusal to hire unionized workers following the 1987 privatization of the state-run Japanese National Railways, party members said. Receiving the proposal, which also…
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Big firms approve pay raises
Carmakers, electrical manufacturers and other major domestic corporations on Wednesday offered to give their workers mandatory annual pay raises in response to their labor unions’ demand in this year’s wage hike talks. Their replies were perceived as satisfactory to labor unions at these companies, most of which had demanded automatic annual pay raises–known as teiki-shokyu,…
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Local suffrage for foreigners in sight, but opposition grows stronger
For Chang Yooka, there is hardly a moment in her daily life that she feels she is a third-generation Korean. But the 27-year-old faces that reality every time an election takes place in her hometown because she does not have the right to vote in any election. Chang was born to Korean parents in Ichinomiya,…
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Gov’t picks 39 groups for free language lessons for needy foreigners
The education ministry has picked 39 groups and organizations across the country to hold free Japanese-language classes for foreign children who cannot afford to attend international schools due to financial difficulties, ministry officials said Monday. The groups, including nonprofit organizations, in 14 prefectures will hold a total of 42 Japanese-language classes at local community centers…
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Prada, manager fail to come to settlement in harassment case
Prada Japan’s senior retail manager said Saturday she had failed to reach a settlement with the Italian fashion label in a dispute alleging the company harassed her and other employees. The manager, Rina Bovrisse, told The Japan Times she will prepare to take further legal action against the company. The case was handled by an…
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Uninsured matter of death for 33
At least 33 people died in 17 prefectures in 2009 after not visiting doctors because they lacked national health insurance, a private survey showed Thursday. The 33 stopped being covered by the national health insurance scheme after failing to pay insurance premiums due to financial difficulties, the Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions said, referring…
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Detainees staging hunger strike
A hunger strike staged by inmates at the West Japan Immigration Center [in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture] entered its fifth day Friday with protesters demanding improved living conditions and protection of their rights, sources said. The 70 inmates, nearly all the men held at the facility, began fasting on Monday, center officials and supporters of inmates…
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Toyota workers here get bonus
Toyota Motor Corp. workers are likely to secure bonuses equivalent to at least five months’ wages for this year, sources involved with this spring’s annual labor-management pay negotiations said Thursday. The Toyota union is seeking annual bonuses worth five months’ wages plus ¥100,000 in this year’s “shunto” talks, while management continues refusing to accept the…