Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture launches ¥10,000 reward scheme for illegal worker tips
Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture on Monday, 11 May launched a reward programme under which residents can earn 10,000 yen (approximately USD 64) for reporting businesses suspected of hiring undocumented foreign workers. The scheme, which had been announced in February, has drawn both official backing and civic opposition since its introduction.
How the Programme Works
Under the scheme, residents submit tips through the prefectural website, providing personal details including their name, address, and phone number, along with a copy of identification such as a driver's licence. The prefecture then verifies the information and, if found accurate, forwards the case to police. The 10,000 yen reward is paid out only if the tip results in an actual enforcement action against the employer.
Reporting is restricted to businesses that are hiring, brokering, or suspected of facilitating illegal employment. According to the prefecture's guidelines, information submitted with malicious intent, or reports targeting individuals solely on the basis of their appearance or nationality, will not be accepted.
Why Ibaraki Introduced the Scheme
Ibaraki officials say the prefecture has recorded the highest number of undocumented foreign workers among Japan's 47 prefectures for four consecutive years, a distinction that prompted the local government to act. At the same time, authorities have been careful to frame the crackdown within a broader labour context: the prefecture acknowledges that foreign workers are essential to addressing severe labour shortages in the region, and argues that targeting illegal employment arrangements also helps combat human rights violations linked to undocumented work.
Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa, speaking at a press conference in April, defended the programme after multiple organisations called for it to be scrapped.
