Ibaraki Prefecture Faces Backlash Over Controversial 10,000 Yen Bounty for Reporting Illegal Foreign Labor

Ibaraki Prefecture’s plan to pay 10,000 yen for reporting illegal foreign labor sparks fears of discrimination and social division in Japan.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 5, 2026, 7:20 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Straits Times

A Monetary Incentive for Local Surveillance

The local government of Ibaraki Prefecture, located northeast of Tokyo, is moving forward with a contentious plan to offer financial rewards to residents who identify illegal employment practices. Under the proposed system, individuals who provide information leading to the arrest of employers hiring undocumented foreign workers would receive a payment of approximately 10,000 yen, or about S$81. Set to launch in fiscal 2026, the initiative is a response to the prefecture’s high volume of illegal labor cases, having reported the highest numbers in Japan for four consecutive years.

Official Justification for State Enforced Accountability

Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa has defended the policy as a necessary administrative tool to ensure the integrity of the local labor market. According to Governor Oigawa, the system is designed to target unscrupulous employers rather than to exclude foreign residents from Japanese society. He maintains that correcting illegal acts is a fundamental responsibility of the local government and that establishing a community that does not tolerate undocumented labor is a prerequisite for foreigners to become active, legal participants in the workforce. The Governor has pledged to continue public outreach to clarify these objectives.

Legal and Civic Warnings of Social Division

Despite official assurances, the plan has encountered significant opposition from legal experts and community organizers who fear a surge in xenophobia. The Ibaraki Bar Association released a formal statement in March urging the prefecture to abandon the project immediately, arguing that it encourages citizens to view their neighbors with suspicion. Critics contend that a bounty system will reinforce unfair prejudices against those with different cultural backgrounds and could lead to widespread discrimination against legal foreign residents who may be unfairly targeted by overzealous reporters.