KUALA LUMPUR - Two Chinese nationals were arrested on February 26 for allegedly employing 13 Vietnamese nationals who had gone missing from their technical intern training placements, according to Iwate Prefectural Police.

The Vietnamese workers were reportedly employed at a farm operated by one of the arrested men.

Police had previously arrested the 13 Vietnamese nationals in October last year on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, including overstaying their visas.

The workers had originally come to Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program and had been employed in the Kanto region and other areas. 

However, they reportedly left their workplaces due to low wages.

According to the Immigration Services Agency, 6,510 technical intern trainees went missing in 2024.

Although the figure decreased by 3,243 from the previous year, it still represents about 1.2% of all trainees.

Low wages and unfair treatment have long been cited as major reasons behind trainees going missing.

Amid growing criticism of the system, Japan plans to replace the current Technical Intern Training Program with a new Training and Employment system starting April 1, 2027.

The new framework aims to focus on securing and developing foreign workers, and will allow job changes under certain conditions.