{
  "id": 3437936,
  "title": "Sexual Harassment during Job Hunting: Companies Must Take Responsibility to Prevent Harm to Students",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/sexual-harassment-during-job-hunting-companies-must-take",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-26T05:34:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20260826-345564/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sexual harassment during job hunting activities is a serious issue that must be addressed by companies, according to the revised Law on Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment. This law, set to take effect in October, requires companies to implement measures to prevent sexual harassment when students and other job seekers interact with company staff.\n\nSexual harassment often occurs in settings such as internships, alumni visits, and social gatherings. It can involve sexual jokes or persistent invitations to social events, causing distress to victims who may fear it could negatively impact their employment prospects if they refuse. A 2024 survey by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry found that 30% of students, both male and female, had experienced sexual harassment during job hunting.\n\nWith labor shortages, companies have increased recruitment activities and organized internships early on, leading to more interactions between students and staff. While this can be beneficial, the rise in sexual harassment suggests that overly restrictive interactions may be a contributing factor. Companies must find a balance to allow students to learn about workplace realities while ensuring their safety and peace of mind.\n\nSome companies have already taken steps to prevent sexual harassment, such as banning personal contact information exchanges and evening meetings. Tailored rules based on specific circumstances are essential. Online matching services, or \"alumni visit apps,\" are increasingly used, requiring employees to report one-on-one meetings to the company.\n\nIt is crucial for companies to educate employees on exercising caution in their interactions with students, reassuring them that reporting harassment will not affect their job prospects. Companies must take responsibility to prevent sexual harassment during job hunting, as failing to do so could lead to a loss of public trust.",
  "summary": "Behavior that harms students and others as they are taking their first steps into society is absolutely unacceptable. Companies should urgently consider measures to ensure that young people’s job-hunting activities are not hindered in unjust ways.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}