Outstanding Workers from Korean Peninsula

Hired to Meet Human Resource Needs

Shortage of Workers in Mining Regions Slightly Eased

Coalmines in Nagasaki Prefecture have been employing all available labor to expand output in line with the national policy on fuel and energy. A common problem among coalmines however has been the shortage of labor brought on by the general mobilization of human resources. This has made it increasingly difficult to meet production goals. No matter how loud recruiters raise their voices of “Come all workers!,” recruitment has its limits because all surplus labor throughout the country has already been exhausted. When can we hope to solve the labor shortage in coalmines? Government authorities have been pursuing various measures to address this problem. Recently, the decision was made to transfer laborers from the Korean peninsula in line with the principle of “Japan-Korea harmonization.” Since late November, large numbers of reliable young people are being transferred to the Japanese homeland. The number of transferees has already reached 1,500. Through the intermediation of the Nagasaki Employment Office, these young workers have been deployed to ease the labor shortage in coalmines throughout the Kitamatsu coalfield, as well as in the coalmines of Seihi-Sakito, Hashima and Takashima. A sigh of relief is being heard in the coalmines. 

(December 9, Showa 14 [1939])