Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
Japanese Workers and Foreign Workers: The True Feelings and Realities Revealed on the Job Site
This is a continuation of the previous post.
Q3: Should we just increase wages tenfold?
10 times!!
Well, I guess people will show up, lol.
Please think about that realistically.
What would happen to society if wages increased tenfold?
If wages in the construction industry increase tenfold, wages in other industries will rise accordingly.
As a result, prices will rise.
In the end, the relative value doesn't change, lol.
If only the construction industry were booming, everyone would be raking it in, and the birth rate might even go up!? lol
Besides, people who come just for the money won't stick around.
Working with nature can be pretty tough, so if you go into it with a casual attitude, you’ll probably end up hating it every morning, lol. (Even we have days when the weather just gets us down, right?)
Whether it's raining or windy, whether it's a hot summer day or a cold winter day, I work in the mountains. (Just like Kenji Miyazawa!)
Covered in mud, drenched in sweat, and sometimes facing danger head-on. (Like rocks whizzing by, for example...)
People who think, “As long as I get paid, that’s all that matters,” probably won’t make it past their first summer.
The real world isn't quite that easy, is it?
But in this line of work, they say that once you make it through one summer, you’re in it for the long haul, lol.
There are actually quite a few summer standards.
Impact on Society as a Whole
If wages in the construction industry rise sharply, this is the impact it will have.
The budget for public works projects will run out
Roads, bridges, dams… the costs for all of them will skyrocket.
Public works projects funded by taxes—the budget just isn't keeping up.
Construction contracts have dropped dramatically, leading to fierce competition for work...
Bankruptcies will continue to rise, and the gap between the rich and the poor will keep widening.
Prices for private construction projects are also soaring
Homes, office buildings, factories… everything will get more expensive.
If that happens, construction itself might decline.
The balance with other industries is disrupted
That’s when people start asking, “Why is it 10 times higher in the construction industry alone?”
There's pressure on other industries to raise their prices as well.
In the end, it just leads to more inflation.
The Potential for a Decline in Quality in the Construction Industry
All sorts of people, drawn by the money, flock here.
People with neither technical skills nor knowledge are coming onto the job site.
Accidents will increase, quality will decline, and ultimately, the entire industry will lose public trust.
Of course, wages should be raised.
But rather than talking about an extreme figure like “XX times,” we should do it gradually, bringing it down to an appropriate level.
Wages that reflect one's skills and experience—that's what matters.
With the CCUS initiatives being promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the recent legislative changes, will things gradually improve from here on out?!
| Level | Construction Industry (10,000 yen) | Manufacturing (10,000 yen) | Transportation Industry (10,000 yen) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lv1 | 350–450 | 330–430 | 340–440 |
| Lv2 | 450–600 | 430–580 | 420–580 |
| Lv3 | 600–800 | 560–780 | 580–810 |
| Lv4 | 800–1,000 | 780–980 | 800–1,000 |
Even if wages were increased by a factor of ○○, it would not provide a fundamental solution.
In fact, it could disrupt the balance of society as a whole.
We need to ensure fair wages and create an environment where people can take pride in their work.
Q4: Do you need people who are physically fit?
To be honest, the answer is YES.
Foreign workers—especially those from Nepal, Vietnam, and the Philippines—are truly tough.
He's physically strong.
Why?
They have come to Japan to earn money.That's why.
I have a clear purpose—for my family back home and for my own future.
That's why I can push through even if it gets a little tough.
He has a "hungry" spirit.
On the other hand, what about Japanese people today?
People say things like “weak” and “mentally fragile,” don’t they?
I think this is true.
The reason is,Because the country is too wealthyThat's just how it is.
I was raised with everything provided for me.
Food, housing, education, entertainment… we have it all.
That's why I don't feel like I "have to make money no matter what." A lot of parents are actually quite well-off (even among the average income bracket).
"This part-time job is too hard, so I'm going to quit." "I'm going to look for an easier job."
There are places where it's easy to quit.
I don't know what real poverty is like
The poor in Japan, the poor in Africa, the poor in Nepal…
It's on a whole different level.
Even people in Japan who are considered poor have smartphones, can buy food at convenience stores, and have a place to shelter from the rain and wind.
But poverty in Africa and Nepal is seriously a matter of life and death.
No food for tomorrow, no place to live—it’s that bad.
People who grew up in that kind of environment, and people who grew up in affluent Japan…
Physically and mentally, there really is a difference.
So, does that mean Japanese people are no good?
That's not true!
If you enter the construction industry, you'll naturally become more resilient.
It's a job that involves working closely with nature.
Young players who were initially frail grow stronger as half a year, then a year, goes by.
Your facial features change, your physique changes, and your way of thinking changes.
It's honed on the job.
But the problem is,Will I be able to keep it up that long?That's the thing.
Young people these days give up because of how tough it is at first.
"I can't handle a job this tough," he said.
There’s no doubt that if Japanese people keep at it, they’ll become craftsmen who can hold their own on the world stage...
People in Japan used to work the same way back then, you know.
But I was able to keep going.
Because I had no other choice.
These days, there are too many choices. There’s too much information. There are too many negative campaigns.
That's why it's easy to quit. Easy to be fooled. Easy to be swayed.
By the way, the phrase “Kids these days!” is even depicted in Egyptian murals lol
That's how I've been growing since back then, lol.
How Can We Raise Resilient People?
Although tough conditions are necessary, we can’t very well make all of Japan poor at this point.
That's why we have no choice but to train them within the construction industry.
It might be tough at first.
But if you keep at it, you'll definitely get stronger.
You'll gain technical skills, see your salary rise, and take pride in your work.
We need to make sure to pass on this kind of information to younger people.
"The construction industry isn't just hard work."
"Opportunities for growth, earning potential, and a sense of fulfillment"
That's what I mean.
Physical strength is essential.
Even Japanese people can become strong if they cut their teeth in the construction industry.
The issue is creating an environment where people can keep going that long, and changing young people’s mindset.
That's all for now.
Next time, I'll write about my vision for the future of the construction industry.
See you later.
