NHK


 

Japanese government authorities have barred the country's largest shipbuilder from accepting foreign technical trainees for the next five years due to alleged negligence in safety management and other conditions.

The Immigration Services Agency and labor ministry made the claims against Imabari Shipbuilding in Ehime Prefecture. They also cancelled the firm's 2,134 training plans approved under the technical training program.

Officials gained the power to impose such penalties in 2017 after guidance and oversight were strengthened for companies and organizations accepting technical trainees. Many interns going missing because of alleged harsh working conditions prompted the move.

The number of training plan cancellations at Imabari Shipbuilding is the most for one business since the strengthened oversight system started in 2017.