Japan to limit work permits for asylum seekers from 2018

Jeez. Xenophobia at it's best.

but thousands of asian workers under the traineeship program at the minimum wage for J companies is perfectly fine!? the countless faces of Japan switching between masks whenever it suits them. LOL

"Please come and work for us, doing jobs that are dangerous, dirty and hard, at pay rates the children of Yamato spurn, and then remember to go home when you are old and tired and needing pensions and healthcare. Thank you! Yoroshiku!"

"The Japanese government has decided to limit work permits for asylum seekers from 2018 on the back of a sharp rise in the number of applicants whose purpose is believed to be just to seek jobs, sources close to the matter said Wednesday."

But they're practice of taking in pretty much ZERO asylum-seekers won't change, nor will allowing them to work illegally until their use is done and kick them back from whence they came. Another issue Japan is a disgrace on.

Japan is NOT the USA and could never be the same. It is not wise to assume otherwise.

As for foreign workers, of which I may be one... every country including the USA has its own and different needs, objectives and purposes. Therefore rules, regulations, policies and procedures are and will be different. While foreigners may want a totally and idealistically open and convenient process that they wish for and want in Japan, they could not and should not "expect" that to be the case.

Now... compare Japan with all other countries...

Every country has the need and right to determine their own way of life based upon their culture, situation, circumstance, and environment...

For Japan now... faced with what is happening internally and internationally, the poltical leaders of Japan saw a need to act in the manner described...

why do people even bother seeking asylum in japan? you have a better chance of winning the lottery than of having your request approved.

But only 28 people were recognized as refugees in 2016, sparking international criticism that Japan is closed to refugees.

you'd have to be an idiot to think that japan cares about "international criticism," and deservedly so. as a sovereign country, japan has every right to say who can and cannot remain on her soil.

Good to hear! There are far too many fraudulent asylum seekers and refugees who make an absolute mockery of the legitimate asylum seekers and refugees fleeing real persecution and violence.

It also makes a mockery of all foreigners currently in Japan who are working legitimately. For the sake of these law-abiding foreigners in Japan, this is a good decision

The biggest problem I see with the immigration and refugee system in japan is that most of it isn't codified into law. Basically, in almost all law regarding foreigners there is always a point which says something like "Or what the Minister of Justice deems appropriate".

With this the Ministry of Justice is given basically the right to ignore any law and just implement whatever they feel like at any moment. In fact they have internal guidelines that completely ignore the law, and in fact if they want they can even ignore those guidelines.

This means that anything that has to do with foreigners, everything is at the mercy of a few bureaucrats, and you have basically no legal recourse, because by law they can do whatever they want.

They change whatever they want whenever they want without consulting with anybody.

What will the construction companies do for cheap staff!?

Subaru also "enjoys" (quote) the profit these employees give... what will they do without their slaves?

Good. "Refugees" is the wrong word anyway. These people are economic migrants. Good on Japan.

Wait. There is no “maybe” pile? Only “highly likely”, “definitely not” and “has applied before so, well, no”.

I agree with not allowing abusers yo work, but, if the system is so clear, why does it take years to make a decision?

just another cruel outcome on a callous system

Bad news for Uniqlo, just two or three days ago there was a headline about Uniqlo hiring dozens of these workers.

The reality for all of them is nothing but deportation. The saddest part of it is that they generally do not realize they're going to be arrested and deported without notice.

Good. "Refugees" is the wrong word anyway. These people are economic migrants. Good on Japan.

I pretty much agree with you in this case - the rise in numbers since Japan started allowing then to work is fairly good evidence of this.

The other reason is that if I were an asylum seeker, I would not seek it in Japan - it is hard to get to, the people are not particularly welcoming to foreigners, and the chance of getting a claim accepted are very low. So I would choose almost anywhere else over Japan other than very poor countries.

Let´s study history. Last century hundreds of thousands of Japanese families had to leave Japan and were very welcome in places as Brazil, Hawaii, Peru, Argentina. Japan was poor, people were starving, they had to leave their home country to very different places. It is the opportunity to Japan to demonstrate greatness, generosity, compassion, humanity.

The Japanese have little interest in accepting more immigrants. This is what a majority of the population thinks.

( and most are migrants not refugees )

When I see Africans advertising sexual services and standing on street corners as hawkers, Chinese girls offering me a 'massage' then I have to surmise that these are not high class people that will make Japan a better place.

Add to the fact that the population still believes in its uniqueness and purity (ask any high school student as that is what they still get taught in schools here!)then Japan is not the paradise that many believe it to be.....

applicants whose purpose is believed to be just to seek jobs

And that's such a meiwaku ! Meanwhile, 90% of J businesses are crying that they can't find enough staff to hire. That decision benefits noone and increases existent issues. That's just one more case of a country being managed by a minority of selfish senile idiots.

dcog9065Today  04:57 pm JST

There are far too many fraudulent asylum seekers and refugees who make an absolute mockery of the legitimate asylum seekers and refugees fleeing real persecution and violence.

Yeah... all 28 of them.

@kurisupisu

There's a good chance these people have been tricked into those jobs or are having a very hard time finding work elsewhere - I mean, just see your own prejudice and your own comment about Japan holding on to it's purity and uniqueness. You are definitely not the only person thinking like that, which can make it hard to find a decent job. People are just trying to survive, that doesn't mean you have to judge them like that. Maybe they could be high class people making Japan better if given a fair chance.

The only way for people with different cultural background to integrate into a society is through the labor market. By working and interacting with the locals. Why are immigrants with different background integrating so well in America but not in Europe? Because in Europe, when you combine big welfare benefits + high minimum wage + labor regulations, you give people no incentive to work, and that results in them relying on the welfare benefits, isolating themselves from society and forming ghettos, which in turn further facilitates the anti-immigration sentiment. Japan, perhaps not surprisingly is taking the European failed model over the successful American one. If they make it more difficult for new comers to get a job and work, they will encourage welfare abuse and further isolation from society.

Now... compare Japan with all other countries... ok comparing other 1st world economies Japans population and its per capita intake of asylum seekers it ranks near the bottom. Japans acceptance of foreigners is never out of charity or kindness but if it is advantageous to them. Just of note charitable donations from different countries (that is donating money goods etc but not expecting anything in return) Japan ranks one of the lowest doesn't even rank in the top 100 countries .

Yes, those visa restrictions for 28 people will make all the difference. Japan excuses itself from the human race when it suits them. Never mind, Japan is finished economically, socially and culturally purely because it refuses to accept change. It's going to be a long, drawn out and painful demise.

but thousands of asian workers under the traineeship program at the minimum wage for J companies is perfectly fine!?

The "trainees" are bonded labour under the control of their employers with no freedom. These "refugees" want the freedom to choose their employer and will be able to leave if the conditions and pay are not up to scratch. Obviously, that cannot be allowed.

a sharp rise in the number of applicants whose purpose is believed to be just to seek jobs

Gee, ya think? I've overheard members of the Filipino community (and I'm sure others) bragging about how easy it was to do.

@Jonorth

Read my post again.

Its not how I think, it is what the majority of Japanese think that matter.

And I personally have seen the fraudsters and prostitutes prevalent in Japan these days.

So, no!

Tightening up visa restrictions is just fine in my book ....

Well done JP gov! Now just make sure to deport them all!