Japan eases visa for foreign staff

■

Tokyo, Dec. 8: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition early on Saturday rammed through legislation to bring more bluecollar foreign workers into the country, in a controversial move to address chronic labour shortages.

The Bill was enacted after the Upper House gave approval despite a raft of criticism by Opposition parties following its passage through the lower house in late November. Both chambers are controlled by Abe’s ruling camp.

Under the new system, the government plans to bring in as many as 3,45,000 foreign workers in construction, food services, nursing and other designated sectors for five years. “We aim at starting it in April next year because we need to swiftly launch the new system in order to deal with the current labour shortage,” Abe told parliament on Thursday.

But Opposition parties claimed that the law fails to address the potential impact on Japanese society of new foreign labour, and does not protect foreign workers’ rights.

In a bid to block its passage, Opposition parties submitted censure motions against Abe and Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita, but they were easily rejected by the ruling bloc. The law allows foreigners with skills in sectors facing shortages to obtain five- year visas that would not allow them to bring their families.

Foreign workers in those fields who hold stronger qualifications and pass a more difficult Japanese language test can obtain a visa that can be extended indefinitely, eventually leading to residency, and will be able to bring over family.