Lantos Is Right About Japanese Job Prejudice

I commend Rep. Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo) for being the first to take issue with a problem of increasing magnitude, one which I have witnessed.

Eleven colleagues of mine from business school went to work for Japanese companies after graduation in 1989. Since then, all but two have resigned. Each had the same complaints: Lack of decision-making authority, despite having been hired as managers; lower pay, lower bonuses and less responsibility than their Japanese counterparts with equal or less experience, and an overall feeling of being “shut-out” from critical information. Each left with a feeling of having been “used” for a particular talent or specialty, yet given nothing in return. Each complained of a tremendous tension between Japanese superiors and American workers.

These complaints cut across several industries, including finance, consumer electronics, commercial and investment banking, manufacturing, marketing and real estate.

This issue is not a manifestation of anti-Japanese sentiment. It is a worsening problem that must be addressed.

This need not be handled nearly as delicately as trade disputes. All companies operating in this country are subject to the same code of conduct for employment practices, regardless of country of origin. If Japanese companies are continuously pointed to as violators, they will have to account for their practices just as anyone else would.

MARK C. MIZRAHI

Los Angeles