Expansion of Framework for Foreign Workers

“Japan is looking for Specified Skilled Workers!” Those are the words seen on a webpage of Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The government of Japan introduced new system for foreign workers in 2019, which allowed foreign workers to have jobs in Japan by categorizing them as Specified Skilled Workers (SSW). However, labor shortage in Japan has not solved by those efforts. The government decided to expand the jobs which can accept foreign workers.

Japan had long been restricting foreign people to get a job in Japan. It allowed foreign workers getting jobs in the concept of assisting developing countries through transferring working skills. Japan started accepting foreign workers as technical trainees in 1993. While the foreign workers could receive wage for their labor, which were sent to their families in home countries, the managers in Japan could get cheap labor.

 

The more foreign workers came to Japan, the less condition of their labor improved. Some managers forced hard labor to the foreign workers with low wages, inviting arguments for protecting human rights and status of foreign workers. Although the conservatives argued possible erosion of domestic labor market, the small and mid-size enterprises demanded more foreign workers with their labor shortage. Japan changed technical trainee system into new system of SSW in 2019.

 

SSW #1 is a status of foreign workers in Japan, who have necessary skill for working in twelve specific industries, such as nursery for aged people, construction, agriculture or fishery. SSW #2 was for the workers with advanced skill in construction and shipbuilding, but extended in 2023 to eleven industries such as cleaning in buildings, car repairing or restaurants. While SSW #1 has an upper limit of five years of residential status, SSW #2 has no limit. SSW #1 is not allowed living with their families.

 

Having introduced that new system, Japan has still been suffering from labor shortage. Adding to the poor condition for foreign workers, depreciation of Japanese yen exacerbated benefit of working in Japan. The government of Japan reluctantly changed its policy again.

 

The government added four industries to SSW #1. They are transportation by cars, railways, forestry and lamber industry. Car transportation includes bus, truck or taxi. While there are concerns about safety of driving cars or trains with passengers, some companies have already been forced to shrink their business due to their labor shortage. The government expects to increase the foreign workers to 820 thousand during five years from 2024 to 2028.

 

Industries are dependent on foreign labor year by year. The society of Japan cannot stand without foreign workers. It is necessary for Japan to make efforts to improve foreign workers’ condition to be chosen by them as the place to have a job.

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