Japan town introduces measures to protect youths from joining illegal ‘dark gigs’

OIZUMI, Gunma — A town in east Japan’s Gunma Prefecture has launched measures to protect young people from joining so-called “dark gigs” that solicit workers online to carry out crimes, amid a string of robberies mainly in the greater Tokyo area.

The Oizumi Municipal Government has set up a consultation service desk at its consumer affairs center and will secure shelters to temporarily protect the individuals involved in the shady gigs as well as their family members from criminal groups.

The National Policy Agency has taken up the leadership to raise awareness of such part-time jobs across Japan, and it’s rare to see a local government independently take measures against this issue.

The town devised the protection measures considering the cases where individuals provide personal information when applying for a job offer not knowing that it’s illegal work and may later be coerced by criminal organizations. The consultation service desk is staffed with experienced town officials who will, if necessary, coordinate with the town’s legal advisers as well as Oizumi Police Station to protect the individuals and prevent their involvement in crimes.

In October, the municipal government distributed flyers at prefectural Oizumi High School and Nishi Oura High School, warning students that “‘Dark gigs’ are not part-time work — they’re crimes.” The same flyer was also posted on the town’s website.

According to the town, there was an incident where a local man in his 20s was arrested for allegedly preparing to rob a jewelry store in Chiba Prefecture, in what was believed to be a dark side job. Mayor Toshiaki Murayama said, “It’s also the town’s role to help young people avoid falling unknowingly into criminal activity that could ruin their lives.”

(Japanese original by Seiichi Yuasa, Ota Local Bureau)