© Reuters
– Thai worker in Japan
Japan is on track to make a huge change in its immigration policy and allow some foreign workers to stay permanently, as well as bring their families, Reuters reported.
Under a law that came into force in 2019, workers in 14 sectors such as agriculture and construction have the right to stay for up to five years, but without family members.
The government is looking for ways to ease these restrictions, and if the audit is done, these workers – mainly from Vietnam and China – will have the right to renew their visas an unlimited number of times, as well as bring their families, a Justice Department spokesman said.
Immigration has long been taboo in Japan, where many value ethnic homogeneity. However, pressure to open its borders is increasing, mainly due to labor shortages, given the country’s declining and aging population.
By the end of 2020, there were 1.72 million foreign workers in Japan out of a total population of 125.8 million. They are only 2.5% of all employees. / BTA
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