Thursday, June 05, 2008

Month for Cracking Down on Illegal Foreign Workers

It's June, and the banners are back up in Shinagawa Station again, just as they are every year. One side reads "Month for cracking down on illegal foreign workers" and the other "Internationalisation within the rules". I don't think any explanation is required as to why putting these banners up is a poor reflection of the immigration authorities judgement and both rude and dangerous to the vast majority of foreign residents who have their paperwork in order.

Q. No, I believe further explanation is required. Please furnish said information forthwith.

A. In addition to ignoring that Japan has done very little to combat its international image as a human trafficker and in such circumstances this banner encourages people to effectively blame the victims, it gives the impression to the countless commuters that pass through the station every day that anyone who looks foreign should be treated with suspicion and reported. Visa statuses are private matters solely between the individual and immigration authorities (and in some cases, employers). They are not for the speculative amusement of everyday folk. As with the failed snitch site campaign of a few years ago, this creates a very dangerous tendency.

It's not only the Immigration authorities to blame for this. Shinagawa Station must also share in the responsibility. So in response to this, I would strongly recommend boycotting all businesses that have branches operating within Shinagawa Station, and making sure the businesses know why. This should start with Starbucks, which actually directly overlooks this xenophobic claptrap, so everyone with even a vaguely foreign looking face can feel discriminated against as they enjoy a latte in the rolled up newspaper Starbucks call cups (I'm already boycotting Starbucks for other reasons, namely their policy of putting drinks in paper cups by default, and the absolute suckitude of their coffee du jour aka the weakest link. I'll boycott them even more now). Also if anybody fancies getting arrested, June might be a good month to start patrolling Shinagawa Station with a sandwich board displaying any pet conspiracy theories you fancy, such as "BEWARE OF PEDOPHILIAC SALARYMAN GROPERS" or "JR STAFF ATE MY BABY" or whatever. If anybody official approaches you, simply point to the banner as precedent.

毎年の６月、入国管理局は品川駅に「不法就労外国人対策キャンペーン月間」と読む横断幕をかける。外国人のビザ状態は本人と入国管理局（と会社の人事部）の間の内密だから周りの人に対して容疑を持たないでください。

See the rest of the photoset here.
Posted by at 11:08 AM
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2 comments:

  1. Asside from all you've mentioned, I don't see the point of the banner's existence.

    First point - What sort of jurisdiction do Japanese commuters have that would warrant announcing it to them?

    Second point - Who goes around broadcasting the status of their visa to strangers? How does someone "suspect" a foreigner is here illegally? I mean, besides the telltale shifty eyes, of course.

    Third point - I'm pretty sure that a country aiming to be part of the global society shouldn't be instilling doubt of all foreigners in its citizens.

    Final inquiry - When I signed up with Softbank during a キャンペーン, I got some swag. What will the 法務省 give me for participating in this キャンペーン?
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  2. Good points all round. I think the answer to the first point is to give the appearance that immigration is tackling the "problem". It's a common solve-all technique used by many businesses and authorities.

    As for question 4, I'm sure they have little mascot keyrings available if you ask them. Why not call up and find out, and report the results here.
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