Seminar Series: Human Rights Due Diligence on Migrant Workers

Session 2

Migrant workers is one of the key themes in carrying out human rights due diligence. Many of you may have started to recognize how migrant workers contribute significantly to you by identifying the number of them in your business and supply chain. Migrant workers are often placed in a vulnerable position in the countries where they work, as language barriers and cultural differences can hinder their access to adequate information about the rights that protect them, their ability to use adequate means to obtain such information, and their access to protection from governments and other organizations. CRT Japan is hosting a series of online seminars featuring experts in the field of human rights due diligence and migrant workers. In the first session, “A Roadmap to Effective Remediation Mechanisms”, Ms. Archana Kotecha discussed the significance of human rights due diligence and criteria for effective remediation mechanisms that could be used for corporate risk management.

The second session welcomes Dr. Bonny Ling and Mr. Guna Subramaniam from Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and they will discuss the following:

• IHRB’s the Dhaka Principles for Migration with Dignity (the principles for responsible recruitment and employment of migrant workers)
• Business risks posed by irresponsible recruitment of migrant workers
• Leadership Group for Responsible Recruitment
• The situation of migrant workers in Taiwan
• National Action Plan (NAP) in Taiwan and programs in fisheries

In Japan, issues around migrant workers are reported: their huge debts to pay back their recruitment fees and limited access to raise voice even in the event of physical or mental harassment in the workplace. What are the challenges facing Taiwan, which is accepting migrant workers to make up for the labor shortage? Any issues in common with Japan? And how are the government and businesses going to address them? In the second session, we aim to provide you with the opportunity to better understand the principles to follow for “fair treatment” of migrant workers, the situation and issues of migrant workers in Taiwan, and the efforts of the government and businesses to provide remedies and prevent problems. We look forward to your participation.

[Time and date] March 3, 2022, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. (JST)
[Language] Simultaneous interpretation available in Japanese and English
[Registration] Please send an email to info@crt-japan.jp by March 2, indicating your name, company/organization name, email address, and questions to Dr. Ling and Mr. Subramaniam if any, with the title of ‘CRT Seminar on March 3’. Upon registration, we will send you a Zoom invitation link for the seminar on March 3.Free of charge.

[Contact] CRT Japan info@crt-japan.jp

The next (third) session is scheduled for May or June 2022. (Details TBA)
The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 was signed by then U.S. President Barack Obama on February 24, 2016. Under this act, the U.S. authorities have confirmed that 148 goods produced in 76 countries are suspected of being linked to forced labor or child labor, and as of February, 2022, they have issued WROs (Withhold Release Orders) to detain specific goods produced in 12 countries, including Japan, at all U.S. ports of entry upon confirmation of reasonable evidence of involvement in forced labor or child labor. From last year to this year, four WROs were issued against Malaysian companies (two against Chinese companies). Is there a possibility that this could happen to Japanese companies? The third session will focus on Malaysia and will touch on the situation of migrant workers and the development of the National Action Plan on “Business and Human Rights”, and the efforts to protect migrant workers.

Seminar Report in English