Many foreigners in Japan have secure lives and careers, but there are also many who, even though here on a technically legal basis, have a more tenuous existence and are abused.
This is especially true of those caught up in human-trafficking -- an activity the government tries to combat abroad but apparently ignores at home.
That was the conclusion of a group of experts who met this week at United Nations University for a discussion on globalization, migration and human security in Asia. They believe that to rectify what for many foreigners is a dire situation, the government and employers must raise awareness of their plight.