Ensuring adequate systems for expansion of foreign workers
WHILE industries in Japan suffering from labour shortages are hopeful, there are deeprooted concerns that the system to expand acceptance of foreign workers is inadequate. The government must strive to manage the new system appropriately.
The revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law has gone into effect. It has established a new residence status to accept foreign nationals with “specific skills.” It is a turnaround of the nation’s immigration control policy that had previously been limited to accepting highly specialised personnel.
To obtain the Type-1 residence status, applicants will need to have passed Japanese language examinations and exams for their specified skill. However, technical trainees with at least three years of experience will not need to take exams to obtain the status.
Initially, most foreign workers with Type-1 residence status will include such individuals. The status is expected to be issued for the first time in the middle of this month at the earliest. Foreign trainees who are accustomed to living in Japan and have accumulated work experience are valuable resources that are available immediately. For such employees, working under a more stable system would be greatly significant.
In the fi rst fi scal year, the government expects to welcome a maximum of 47,550 foreign workers under the new system. It is important for the government to work closely with companies and local governments to establish measures to administer their stays and to offer assistance.
The revised law, which was enacted in December, left details of the system to government and ministerial ordinances.
Remuneration and benefits are guaranteed at the same or higher level than that of Japanese workers. In order to prevent workers from staying in the country for longer than permitted, it has been stipulated that companies must shoulder travel expenses when a worker cannot afford to return to their home country. Conditions also include that workers must be at least 18 years old and in good health.
The role of the “Immigration Services Agency,” which will be responsible for managing the new system, is important. It has to cooperate with ministries and agencies concerned to strengthen measures to detect people who stay longer than permitted while supervising accepting companies.
It is also necessary to extend support for such matters as securing housing and Japanese language learning so that foreign workers can adjust to local communities and workplaces smoothly. The establishment of consultation services at local levels to provide information on administrative services and social security programmes must be expedited.
Under the new system, foreign workers with the new residence status can change employer within the same industry. Concerns remain that foreign workers will be attracted to jobs in urban areas where wages are relatively high, leaving labour shortages in provincial areas unresolved.
The government intends to develop a framework to urge companies in urban areas to refrain from accepting foreign workers. If foreign workers excessively concentrate in urban areas, further measures must be established.
Correcting the technical trainee system must also be tackled. The number of trainees who absconded reached a record-high 9,052 last year. Low wages and long working hours are thought to be behind this. Companies that deviate from training plans and force trainees to work in illegal conditions must be dealt with strictly.
Not a few trainees have large debts owed to brokers in their home countries. With the expansion of foreign workers, the government must cooperate with other countries to put an end to malicious brokers. — WPBloomberg