The government of Japan has approved plans to overhaul its foreign trainee program, which has been criticized as exploitative and a cover for importing cheap labor, and replace it with a new system that would offer better skills and rights to foreign workers. The plans, which were adopted on Friday at a meeting of related Cabinet ministers, would require voter approval in the November general election. The move is part of Japan’s efforts to cope with its labor shortage, as its population of 126 million is rapidly aging and shrinking.
The current program, which was introduced in 1993, has been plagued by abuses and violations
The current program, which is called the Technical Intern Training Program, was introduced in 1993 as a way of transferring skills to developing countries through youth training. However, the program has been plagued by abuses and violations, such as low wages, long hours, poor working conditions, and human trafficking. As of last June, nearly 360,000 trainees were participating in the program, with most from Vietnam, followed by Indonesia and the Philippines, according to government data. The trainees work in various sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and services, for up to three years.
The program has been widely condemned by human rights groups, labor unions, and foreign governments, who have urged Japan to reform or abolish it. Last year, a government panel recommended that the program be scrapped, after reports of rampant maltreatment and exploitation. The panel also said that the program did not meet the needs of the Japanese economy, which requires more skilled and long-term workers.
The new program, which would still need parliamentary and public approval, would offer more opportunities and protections to foreign workers
The new program, which would still need parliamentary and public approval, would offer more opportunities and protections to foreign workers. Under the new program, people who arrive on a three-year trainee visa would be able to upgrade to a skilled worker category that would allow them to stay up to five years and possibly obtain permanent residency. The new program would also provide more training and supervision to the foreign workers, and ensure that they receive the same wages and benefits as the Japanese workers. The new program would also limit the types of jobs that are available to foreign workers, as the conservative governing party remains reluctant to allow a more open immigration policy.
The government hopes that the new program would attract more foreign workers to Japan, which has one of the lowest immigration rates in the world. Japan’s labor force is expected to shrink by 10 million by 2030, according to the Japan Center for Economic Research. Many industries, such as services, manufacturing, and construction, are facing severe labor shortages, which hamper their productivity and competitiveness. Japan also grants visas to some white-collar professionals, mostly from the West, but they are not enough to fill the gap.
The government seeks to create an inclusive society and make Japan a country that foreign workers will choose
The government seeks to create an inclusive society and make Japan a country that foreign workers will choose, as it faces competition from other Asian countries, such as South Korea, which have more diverse and inclusive policies and cultures. Japan’s lack of diversity and inclusivity, as well as its comparatively low pay, has been making it less attractive to foreign workers, who have different preferences and expectations. “The government seeks to create an inclusive society, and we want to make Japan a country that foreign workers will choose,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at the Cabinet meeting where the new policy was endorsed.
The government also announced a new licensing agreement with the fashion label Miu Miu, which will allow the government to create, develop, and distribute beauty products under the Miu Miu brand. The first fragrances are expected to be launched in 2025.