July 16, 2025
Executive Committee
National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)

In the present House of Councilors election, some candidates are using their campaign speeches to incite chauvinism, discrimination and prejudice against foreign residents and immigrants. Some political parties are also fueling xenophobia by calling for rejection of “illegal foreigners” and for ending “preferential treatment of foreigners”. The government has also launched a policy of eliminating “illegal foreign residents” on the grounds that they are not complying with the rules and are threatening people’s safety and security. Its position is in common with that of US President Donald Trump and the rising ultra-right in Europe. Zenroren strongly protests against such policy that encourages chauvinism and discrimination. Uneasiness is prevailing among the many migrant workers at our workplaces. Zenroren expresses its no-tolerance of all forms of discrimination.

In a recent opinion survey, respondents were asked if they believe that foreigners are given excessively preferential treatment. Sixty-four percent said they believe so. (The survey was conducted by public broadcaster NHK and some other media outlets on June 28). But the argument that foreigners are given preferential treatment is totally groundless. In Japan, there is no basic law to defend the human rights of foreigner and migrants. Foreign residents are not given the right to vote. Their access to public service jobs is restricted. They are not entitled to receive public welfare assistance by law. It is not true that foreigners are given preferential treatment in health care services, pensions, the national health insurance program, and the scholarship programs.

Those who are trying to fuel discrimination against foreigners cite undocumented foreign residents to support their arguments. But the number of undocumented foreign people in Japan has declined to one-fourth of what it peaked in 1993. There been little change in the number in the recent years. In 2024, illegal immigrants accounted for only 0.19 percent of the total foreign arrivals. The number of crimes committed by foreigners was record low in 2022. It was the eighth lowest in 2023, down by about one-third from it peaked in 2005, according to the Justice Ministry’s White Paper on Crime. On the contrary, migrant workers are active in all business sectors like agriculture, forestry, fisheries, construction, transportation, caregiving and other welfare sectors, distribution and retails. The Japanese economy and society are supported by migrant workers.

Zenroren opposes all forms of discrimination based on race, nationality and ethnicity and struggles to build a multicultural society of coexistence. In order to eradicate discrimination in workplaces and local communities, it welcomes foreign and migrant workers to the union, given them advice to solve their problems, and work together with them so advance the trade union movement. Discrimination against foreigners or migrants is linked to discrimination against and rejection of people of all minority groups, including people with disabilities, sexual minorities as well as women. There can be no neutrality on the issue of discrimination. Zenroren will continue to join together with all workers in our ranks to speak up against chauvinism, xenophobia, discrimination and hate speech. We call on all workers to work to make workplaces and society in general a place where everyone is respected regardless of race, nationality and ethnicity and where gender equality is respected.

Japanese Translation