Myanmar workers sheltered by union over alleged abuse in Hokkaido

SAPPORO - Six Myanmar nationals working at a farm in Hokkaido, northern Japan, have been given shelter by a local labor union after allegedly being subjected to abuse and sexual harassment by farm staff, the union said Friday.

The six, men and women in their 30s or younger, were employed at the farm in Kyogoku, a town near Sapporo, under Japan's skilled worker program aimed at bringing in more foreigners to address the acute labor shortage in the rapidly graying country.