STORIES2021/03/26
For my friends and for my family in Bangladesh and Japan.
UT Connect
Shirajul Umino
PROFILE
In 1988 Shirajul came to Japan from Bangladesh. A company he had worked since then went bankrupt so he joined UTHP(now UT Connect), which took over the outsourced service business of the company. Shirajul is now responsible for the two departments and tries to talk to new workers and listen to their problems. He has a family with his Japanese wife and two children.
Introduction
About 30 years have passed since Shirajul came to Japan from Bangladesh. During that time, he worked hard, helped his company increase productivity and turn around from deficits to making profits, and became responsible for the two departments. His outsourced workplace was then transferred to UT Group. What did Shirajul obtain at UT Group?
I came far from my home country to Japan. I was no longer naive, soon after.
“Hey, Shirajul. Japan is a great place for work. Come soon!” Partly prompted by my childhood friend’s strong recommendations, I dropped out of a university in Bangladesh and came to Japan at the age of 21. Together with four foreigners, including my childhood friend, we stayed and worked at a rubber processing plant in Ibaraki. We enjoyed working and competing every day to see who could be the most productive.
In my third year in Japan, I moved to a factory that undertook the production of cleaners for major manufacturers. Like the rubber plant, I made a strong effort, was assigned to be a leader, and eventually led 70 staff. But after I was shifted to an in-between position of the company and the worksite, I became disgruntled. Someone who had worked hard for 10 years at \800 per hour had to teach work to new dispatched workers who were paid \900 per hour. I couldn’t accept this, as we all had really exerted ourselves to make our operations more efficient and to make the factory that was in the red become profitable.
So, I made a direct appeal to the factory manager and asked for the same salary at the very least. And every time I was disappointed with his response: “It’s your job to settle things peacefully! Those who complain should resign. They are completely replaceable.”
The work at UT has changed my work life and my family life.
That company went bankrupt so I joined UTHP(now UT Connect) at the age of 52. As the outsourced work was transferred to UTHP(now UT Connect), the job and the factory remained the same. So did five others who decided to join UTHP(now UT Connect) together with me. Not only did UTHP(now UT Connect) keep its original promise of improving working conditions, but I have also been appointed to the same position to look after the two cleaner-related departments from my previous job. How do we protect the safety of each individual, how do we increase awareness, and how do we deliver products on time? The fact that we have received no claim for 10 years from the days of the previous company has resulted from the challenge the entire team has taken up. The improvement of the environment after the transfer has also been a big boost, making everyone more motivated.
The transfer to UTHP(now UT Connect) has foremost brought me reassurance. Due to persistent urging from my children, I bought a new car. I have also signed up for a new house with a large floor plan, so that they can invite their friends. I am now discussing with the contractor for construction. In January 2021, I acquired Japanese nationality. I would not have thought about it before, but my children told me, “Daddy, you will continue to live in Japan with us for the long time in the future”. I really want my family to feel reassured.
I will continue to just follow the words my parents told me when I left Bangladesh, whether at work or at home. “OK, try hard in Japan. However, never live in a shameful way to our family and the country.”
