Migrants to Japan suffer racism and exploitation: UN expert

GENEVA - Japan lacks a comprehensive immigration policy that would offer protection to migrants, a United Nations expert charged Thursday.

Migrants to the Asian economic powerhouse, who have been arriving as workers for about two decades, face “racism and discrimination, exploitation, a tendency by the judiciary and police to ignore their rights” and other challenges, said Jorge Bustamante, the UN expert on migrants’ rights.

“Racism and discrimination based on nationality are still too common in Japan, including in the workplace, in schools, in health care establishments and housing,” Bustamante said in a statement at the end of a visit to the country.

The independent expert also recommended that Tokyo establish programmes to help the integration of migrants into Japanese society.