Labor Contracting in International Migration: The Japanese Case and Implications for Asia

Abstract

Labor contracting in Japan is under relatively strict regulations which comply with some key ILO conventions. However, the applicability to labor contracting from/to overseas is limited. Many foreign workers coming to Japan use foreign or Japanese intermediaries whose activities are illegal. But the specifics differ appreciably according to the types of migrants. The vulnerability of migrants seems to be affected by several factors such as: the income disparity between their home country and the destination country, the costs of migrating, their work status, and the costs of job search and the extent of voluntary labor turnover in the destination country. In this regard, conditions in Asia may make for vulnerable migrants and profitable brokers.