Officials suspected 'slavery' years ago

SAPPORO--Municipal government officials here suspected seven years ago that four live-in workers with mental disabilities at a local eatery were being grossly overworked and maltreated, but did nothing, sources said.

The man and three women, aged 32 to 51, filed a lawsuit in February, claiming they were forced to "work like slaves" at the 3-chome Shokudo eatery in Sapporo's Shiroishi Ward. It closed in October 2007.

They are seeking about 45 million yen in compensation from the operator and others.

The four cooked and washed dishes for long hours without pay for 13 to 31 years.

According to their lawyer, the operator also pocketed their disability pensions.

They were only given enough cash to pay for a weekly visit to a public bath. Their meals consisted of leftovers from the restaurant. They had little spare clothing, and were constantly scolded.

After years of duress under sweatshop conditions, none had the confidence to escape.

City officials say they now regret failing to act earlier to take the plaintiffs into protective custody.

City records show that an official interviewed one of the plaintiffs at the city's guidance office for people with mental disabilities in August 2001.

The person was there to renew a disability certificate.

Describing the person's condition, the official wrote: "Fatigue is evident, and working long hours can be suspected." Nothing more could be found on record showing anything was done to look into the case. The official recalled contacting the city's Shiroishi Ward Office, where the eatery was located.

A caseworker from the ward office who visited the restaurant to investigate decided there was no problem.

The caseworker does not recall who was questioned and what exactly was under investigation at the time, according to city officials.

Meanwhile, in October 2006, the guidance office interviewed three of the four plaintiffs when they came to the office to renew their disability certificates.

All three were wearing old clothes and their nails were dirty, officials noticed. They suspected the three were living under extreme conditions.

About three months later, in January 2007, the office filed a written report on the case with the city administration.

But it took even longer-- until June that year--for officials to interview the operator of the restaurant.

City welfare officials said they should have begun digging into the problem sooner, given that signs of mistreatment were apparent in 2001. They said a thorough investigation should have been undertaken after the 2006 interview.(IHT/Asahi: March 6,2008)