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Japan enacts laws for new foreign worker scheme

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Individuals such as those who intentionally fail to pay taxes and social security contributions could have their status withdrawn or changed.

Anyone residing here and taking advantage of the many social benefits provided should be contributing financially to the nation’s programs.

14 ( +21 / -7 )

Most people need a health insurance card for medical treatment. Exemptions can be made for people receiving welfare. People in retirement receive pensions if they paid in. No receives “free” social benefits.

18 ( +19 / -1 )

Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi sought to tamp down concerns at a Diet session on Thursday, saying the measures would apply only to "malicious cases" and that the vast majority of holders would be unaffected.

If that is the case then why not draft the law that way? If you want to go after malicious cases of serial tax avoiders that is fine, but you don't need a law whose scope is so broad that even something as trivial as forgetting to bring your zairyu card with you when you step out to the Conbini could lead to having your PR revoked.

The new law is a bloody disgrace.

8 ( +16 / -8 )

Hint:

I keep my Zairyu card/resident card in my key pouch. I never go out without my keys. Sometimes I go out with my wallet. Like taking the rubbish or going to the gym.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

PR holders will be treated like crap from now losing by their status value! Minor offenses such as not carrying their residence card or being falsely accused of starting a confrontation or something like that will get their PR revoked! That is the reason the bill was drafted that way with a lot of ambiguity. It’s not just that your failure to not pay the taxes in malicious cases…if that was so then they would have written the bill in such a way! The writing of the bill clearly shows what the LDP led Government want to do, that is to reduce the number of permanent residents by kicking them out of Japan and therefore have created this back door for it! How secretly they put that part into the bill until it was presented for deliberation is a dead giveaway of what they are up to! What a shameful act!

-15 ( +8 / -23 )

The changes also include a contentious new measure that allows the government to revoke permanent residence status for foreigners who deliberately fail to pay taxes or social insurance premiums, prompting concerns from those who have lived in Japan for many years.

When did the idea of obeying the law become contentious?

5 ( +12 / -7 )

I just checked the definition: "Something that is permanent lasts for ever". Obviously has a different meaning in Japan. My advice to people thinking of moving here is to forget it. You can get better salaries elsewhere.

-9 ( +13 / -22 )

rainydayToday  05:51 pm JST

Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi sought to tamp down concerns at a Diet session on Thursday, saying the measures would apply only to "malicious cases" and that the vast majority of holders would be unaffected.

If that is the case then why not draft the law that way? If you want to go after malicious cases of serial tax avoiders that is fine, but you don't need a law whose scope is so broad that even something as trivial as forgetting to bring your zairyu card with you when you step out to the Conbini could lead to having your PR revoked.

The new law is a bloody disgrace.

Where does it say that?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Wonder if old Taro Aso had a hand in drafting this xenophobic legislation. He would prefer slave workers of course -- that's how his family made their money!

-5 ( +11 / -16 )

In the first place, foreign trainees come to Japan to learn skills and put them to use in their home countries. What would the sending countries think if they were given permanent residency? It would not contribute to the development of the country.

The most important thing the Japanese government should tackle is how to increase the number of Japanese citizens, not to increase the number of foreign slaves in society.

Korean prisoners were also granted permanent residency when the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea was signed, so they are probably afraid of losing that privilege.

Permanent residency should not be granted to anyone, at least not to useless Koreans.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a "scheme" as an organized plan for doing something, especially something dishonest or illegal that will bring a good result for you.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Anyone has a link to the law in question?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@ian same question, where does it said that about not bringing the zairyu card the PR will be revoked?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Wichi

@ian same question, where does it said that about not bringing the zairyu card the PR will be revoked?

The main point is that you can be arrested and fined for not carrying it.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

wallace

Today 09:36 pm JST

Wichi

> @ian same question, where does it said that about not bringing the zairyu card the PR will be revoked?

> The main point is that you can be arrested and fined for not carrying it.

That's not the main point wallace

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

The whole attitude from the Japanese government needs to change.

I had a situation where my daughter who was born here , got pregnant moved to Europe but when we asked for documentation about her 20 years living in Japan They said you are a foreigner, we have no responsibility for you. Basically get lost.

Shockingly uncaring.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Sounds good..

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

The laws will take effect within three years of their promulgation in a landmark shift in Japan's policy on accepting foreign workers.

There's alot could happen in 3 years

The present incentive to come work in japan or continue to live in Japan is dwindling for foreigners

Strict laws , equality issues , high living costs , low salaries , high taxes and the xenophobia

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

Meanwhile, the government gives Japanese businesses a loophole to exploit so that they do not have to pay into the system by allowing them to employ "independent contractors" instead of regular employees. Sure, the individuals should have to pay in, but securing those matching funds from the Japanese businesses would help the social insurance schemes a lot more, no?

The government basically needs to deduct all expenses direct from all salaries, in addition to the matching shares from businesses. Then, and only then, will all of these changes actually start to address real problems.

But the government is just putting the onus on the foreigners and giving a pass to Japanese businesses that exploit foreign labor.

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

It is pretty obvious that Japan is happy to keep it's version of the Kafala employment system that is used by many Middle Eastern countries, where employers import foreign laborers on a contract for a specified time period.

They're happy with the status quo. Except word is getting around.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

There is never, never anything that governments do to make life easier.

The Japanese government seeks to make life more difficult, especially for foreigners.

From filling out multiple forms to get a form that requires another form to get a single piece of paper to the multiple checks that government offices do and need to employ a legion of paper shufflers.

Well, Japan is not the only country in the world for workers and when the lack of workers in key industries are found to be lacking then there’ll be a panicky knee jerk response as per usual-it’ll be too late though.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

This is supposedly to improve on / replace the current foreign trainee program to attract more foreigners to come and work here.

But some residents are opposed because theyre afraid that deliberately not paying taxes and social contributions would be used to revoke their PRs.

Just don't deliberately evade your legal dues

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Jim:

PR holders will be treated like crap from now losing by their status value! 

I would have thought that was obvious during the first year of the pandemic when PRs weren't allowed back into Japan even though their Japanese spouses and kids were, and they were continuing to pay taxes.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japanese confectionery maker Chateraise Co were left on standby without pay for about 2 1/2 months. This affected over 80 foreign workers, will Japanese law protect them.......One word answer only needed. No.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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