Japan to resume foreign meal service worker intake under separate quota after food service halt

The Japanese government is contemplating the resumption of foreign meal preparation worker intake for medical and welfare institutions as well as schools by consolidating this category with another field that still has room under its acceptance quota. Currently, meal preparation is classified as a food services industry job under the Specified Skilled Worker (i) status for residence, irrespective of whether the foreign worker is employed by a restaurant, medical facility, or school.

However, Japan had suspended issuing visas for this category following the attainment of a government-set quota. The government intends to submit the quota merger proposal to an expert panel within a month, aiming to make a Cabinet decision by the end of the year to resume the intake of meal prep workers. The Specified Skilled Worker program is a status of residence that admits foreign workers to industries experiencing significant labor shortages.

In the food service sector, restaurants and pubs are the primary employers, but the program also supports meal service operations in hospitals and nursing care facilities nationwide. The program is divided into Specified Skilled Worker (i) and the more advanced Specified Skilled Worker (ii) qualifications, with the former capped at 805,700 workers until the end of fiscal 2028.

Of this total, 50,000 were allocated for the food service sector. As of the end of March, the Immigration Services Agency announced a halt to new applications for April 13 onwards, citing an expected surpassing of the food service industry's cap. Medical and welfare facilities, among others, have been experiencing severe labor shortages, prompting appeals for assistance.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was conducting a fact-finding survey to address the issue. As of July, the number of residents under Specified Skilled Worker (i) stood at approximately 430,000, with 49,290 of those working in the food service industry, which had reached 98.6% of its quota. The food and beverage manufacturing field, including food factories, still has room under its acceptance quota.

Consequently, the government plans to address personnel shortages by integrating meal service operations at hospitals and facilities into this field while continuing the suspension of new acceptances for restaurants and other eating establishments. The number of foreign residents working in the food and beverage manufacturing sector has also reached 101,922, nearing its acceptance cap of 133,500, and could potentially hit the limit early.