Experiences of Technical Intern Training #3 “Changing Jobs to a Food Processing Company”
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Ly
Born in 1998 in Vietnam
2016: Graduated from high school
2017: Technical intern training in agriculture (Fukuoka Prefecture)
2020: Completed technical intern training, continued working with special measure for COVID-19
March 2021: Support from nonprofit organization
May 2021: Changed jobs to food processing company (Okayama Prefecture)
Payment to the Sending Organization
I studied at the sending organization for about 9 months and paid a total of 6,500 USD. In addition, I needed to pay for dormitory and preparation expenses, so I borrowed about 1 million JPY from banks, etc. After that, I was able to send about 2.5 million JPY to my parents during the three years of my technical internship, and I was able to pay off that debt and my parents’ previous debt (for building a house). I am now sending money for my younger brother’s school fees and for my family’s living expenses.
A Series of Disappearances
I came to Japan in 2016 and started a technical internship at a farmhouse in Fukuoka Prefecture. The job involved cutting weeds and helping to spray insecticides. There were eight trainees at first, all women, but three of them disappeared. The first senior Cambodian who disappeared was hit on the head with a shovel by the farm owner, which triggered her disappearance.
No Support from the Union
We had very little support from our supervising organization (union). The union representative met with us only once or twice a year and did not bring an interpreter. There was no way for us to contact an interpreter either.
After three and a half years of work, our salary had not increased, so in February 2021, my colleague and I told the farm owner that we wanted to change jobs. However, we were not allowed to take paid leave freely to go for an interview, so we had a discussion with the owner and the union the following month.
We had consulted with a nonprofit organization some time ago, and since we understood the system, we asked the union to support us in changing jobs. However, the union lied to us saying, “You cannot work at other companies with your visas; you are being cheated by the support group.” We told the union, “If the union won’t help us, we will ask the support group.”
Changing Jobs with the Support of a Nonprofit Organization
After that, the representative of the support group, talked with the union and the company over the phone, and also contacted OTIT (Organization for Technical Intern Training). As a result, we were given shelter at the support group and started living at the support group’s facility (temple) in Tokyo. There were also many other former trainees living there.
OTIT (Organization for Technical Intern Training)
About the Nonprofit Organization in Tokyo / KOKORO
About two weeks later, I had an interview at a food company through the support group, and I passed. I studied Japanese for 8 hours a day (free classes and self-study) for about 2 months until I started working at the company in May. The company is a factory that makes chestnuts and other products, and the president and colleagues are very kind. I am currently working part-time, but if I pass the JLPT(Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4 or higher and the skills test, I can change my status to a Specified Skilled Worker. I hope to work at this company for a long time.
Experiences of Technical Intern Training #2 “How Much Money Can be Saved through Technical Intern Training?”
How much money can be saved through technical intern training? Let’s look at the case of eight senior Vietnamese technical intern trainees and compare their savings amount in three years.
Experiences of Technical Intern Training #4 “Baking Bread with Passion”
Here is a story of a senior technical internship trainee at a bakery. She is enjoying her internship in a friendly work environment and a caring union (supervisory organization).
If you want to know more, check here!
