A new system to expand the scope of foreign workers accepted into Japan will start in April. But while companies and other entities grappling with severe labor shortages have high expectations, a lack of preparation and vague explanations on the program's details have also become apparent.
On March 19, about 800 people packed into a large hall on the fifth floor of the Tokyo metropolitan government building in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, for an explanatory meeting. During a question-and-answer session, many hands shot up around the room.
"How can we prove that we are paying them the same or more than Japanese workers?" one attendee asked. "Where can these workers get health checks?" asked another.
The government has stipulated that earnings of foreign workers who come to Japan under the new "specified skills" resident status must be at least equal to Japanese workers, and they will be required to submit a health certificate, a move intended to prevent infectious diseases coming with them. The answers central government officials provided to these questions were anything but clear.
"The specific details will be published on the website," was one answer given. "I was left feeling very uncertain," said the 35-year-old president of an employment agency.
The following day, the Justice Ministry finally released 134 pages of guidelines for the new system on its website. A ministry official said, "This is the most detailed description of the new system at this point." However, the official added, "There might be some parts that are difficult to understand."
About 15,000 people had participated in explanatory meetings the central government held in all 47 prefectures by March 22. "Almost every event was full to capacity," a government official involved in the events said.
Examinations for new foreign workers wanting to work in the restaurant and accommodation industries will be held in Japan in April. Spots available for the restaurant sector exam were filled the same day applications started to be accepted, although the quota was set at only 338 people. The schedule for exams from May and beyond has not been set.
Changes impact from mid-April
Resident status in Japan for employment purposes had been limited to workers in highly specialized fields, such as doctors and lawyers. Accepting more foreign workers to Japan under the new system will widen this to include workers in simple labor areas. The new status will cover 14 sectors, including agriculture and construction, and aims to stem the severe labor shortage they face.
The new resident status will have two types, depending on the worker's level of skills. Type 1 is for people who will do relatively straightforward work, and they must pass technical exams and a Japanese-language daily conversation level proficiency test. These workers can stay in Japan for up to five years, but they are not allowed to bring family members.
The Type 2 status is for people with higher-level skills, and they are required to pass a more advanced test. Type 2 foreign workers have no restriction on the length of their stay in Japan and they may bring spouses and children. In effect, this will open the door to permanent residency in Japan.
Foreign technical trainees with at least three years of experience can be granted the Type 1 status without sitting the tests. The government expects some people could acquire the status as early as mid-April.
The Japanese-language and technical tests will be held in Japan and overseas from mid-April. Foreigners who pass these tests are forecast to arrive in Japan starting from this summer.
The government estimates the nation will accept up to 47,550 foreign workers under the new program during fiscal 2019, and a maximum of 345,150 over the five years through the end of fiscal 2023.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
