Foreign technical trainees and part-time workers in Japan have formed a labor union to gain greater bargaining power with their employers.

The inauguration ceremony was held in Tokyo on Sunday.

The union, which is exclusively for foreign workers, has about 20 members. Many of them are Vietnamese technical trainees and students who are working part-time.

Various problems, such as nonpayment and unjust dismissal, are being reported as the number of foreign workers increases in Japan.

The new labor union is being assisted by a non-profit organization that supports Vietnamese people living in Japan.

The union says it is joining Rengo Tokyo, which is part of Japan's largest labor organization, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation. It aims to make use of Rengo's network and knowhow to swiftly solve problems.

Rengo, on the other hand, intends to deal more deeply with issues involving foreign workers.

It says a labor union that is exclusively for foreign workers is rare, and this is probably the first union in Japan whose members are predominantly Vietnamese.

One of the members, a Vietnamese student who works part-time, says there are many Vietnamese people in Japan who do not speak Japanese or have no one to consult with.

He says he wants to help them and let people in Vietnam know about the situation.

Saito Chiaki of Rengo Tokyo says her organization's network can help foreign workers solve their labor problems.

She says it's important to protect foreigners who want to work or study in Japan while the country's population continues to decline.