Myanmar Farm Worker Alleges Physical Abuse by Local Official in Hokkaido

A Myanmar national in his 30s, hired under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker program, appeared at a Tokyo press briefing on Sept. 7 to claim he suffered physical assault and intimidation while working at a farm in Kyogoku, Hokkaido. He said supervisors and a local town assembly member, who effectively runs the farm, grabbed his collar and beat him with a stick when he erred or could not speak Japanese, leaving him sleepless and haunted by nightmares.

He announced plans to lodge criminal complaints against two people, including the assembly member. The Sapporo General Union says six other Myanmar workers at the same operation have endured similar abuse, with one already reporting assault and injury to Hokkaido Prefectural Police. The farm’s corporation has employed about 30 Myanmar staff since May, and a prior company at the same address was penalized in 2022 for severe violations of technical interns’ rights. The regional immigration services bureau has opened an inquiry, while the implicated assembly member has avoided public comment and missed the September assembly session, citing personal reasons.