A panel of experts from Japan’s Justice Ministry has proposed replacing the criticized foreign technical intern program with a new system that values them as vital human resources instead of disposable labor. The program was established to train individuals from developing countries and has been criticized for using cheap labor in areas with staff shortages. The panel aims to develop a new system reflecting Japan’s economic reality and plans to release a final report in the fall. Quality journalism is now more important than ever, and by subscribing, you can help us get the story right.