Japan Begins Planning New System To Cap Number of Foreign Residents
For the past few years, Japan has been expanding opportunities for people from overseas to work in the country. In 2019, the government introduced the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) system to address shortages in sectors such as construction, nursing care and food service. The number of foreign employees has since reached a record 2.57 million. […] The post Japan Begins Planning New System To Cap…
Japan is initiating a planning process for a new system to limit the number of foreign residents, as reported on August 7. For several years, the country has welcomed overseas workers, with the number of foreign employees reaching a record high of 2.57 million in 2019. This has prompted policymakers to consider imposing numerical limits on the foreign population.
A high-level working group convened on August 7 to discuss the potential management of this growing foreign population and its impact on the economy, social security, and local communities. Currently, there is no overall cap on foreign residents in Japan. Policymakers are still deliberating, with an aim to develop a basic policy by the end of fiscal 2026.
Proposals include setting targets for the proportion of foreign nationals in Japan's population or establishing numerical caps for specific residence statuses. The concept of "quantitative management" has been backed by Kimi Onoda, the minister responsible for promoting a harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals. This approach, though, may face opposition, particularly from businesses that heavily rely on overseas workers.
Japan's labor shortage is significant, with foreign employees filling gaps in various sectors like construction, nursing care, and hospitality. The impact of such a policy would vary based on a person's residence status, occupation, and reason for coming to Japan. While some foreign-worker categories already have intake limits, such as those within the Specified Skilled Worker system, others do not.
Extending control to larger residence categories is under consideration. Japan's demographic landscape is changing, with the number of Japanese citizens living in the country falling below 120 million for the first time in four decades. Meanwhile, the foreign-resident population grew to 4.03 million in 2022, the highest since 2013.
Balancing Japan's workforce needs with the management of foreign population growth presents a challenge for policymakers, with potential implications for those living and working in Japan.
Written by urgent.news from Tokyo Weekender's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
