Job-hunting students continue to face sexual harassment in Japan

Recruiters in Japan still sexually harass students during graduate job interviews, underscoring the ineffectiveness of efforts to end the issue and the power disparity that persists despite businesses’ desperate efforts to fill positions in the face of the labor shortage.

The majority of the complaints that the Japan Harassment Association receives are from female university students, despite the fact that many businesses have taken steps to prevent harassment.

One in three students who have participated in internships or job searches reported experiencing sexual harassment, according to a 2024 study by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

During the current ordinary Diet session, the government intends to introduce a bill to amend the Equal Employment Opportunity Law, requiring businesses to require companies to take measures to prevent harassment of students and establish a way for victims to lodge complaints.

“Meetings between students and alumni employees have increased as companies seek opportunities to meet students amid intense competition for talent,” an official from a university in Tokyo said. “Students can be targeted due to their vulnerable position.”

Multiple cases of sexual harassment during job hunting came to light in 2019, leading to some companies banning nighttime meetings and prohibiting employees from exchanging personal contact details with students.

In January, a male employee of technology firm NEC Corp was arrested for allegedly raping a female university student and later fired. Although he was not prosecuted, the company has since set up a consultation desk and requires meetings between staff and students to be reported beforehand to superiors and human resources.

Additionally, some colleges have policies in place to stop harassment. Takushoku University recommends meeting alumni from their respective companies only on campus or at their company’s offices, while Rikkyo University has listed specific situations to be cautious of.

According to Kaname Murasaki, the head of the Japan Harassment Association, students should not respond right away to “suspicious invitations or questions,” and employers should not view applicants who report harassment negatively.