politics

Japan to bring in more foreign workers

56 Comments
By Kyoko Hasegawa

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Japan Work Visa  for Independent Workers

Japan work visa is applicable to those professionals or other skilled workers who have no sponsorship of an employer otherwise known as Skilled Independent Migrant  Japan Work Visa Subclass 175. This Japan Work visa is also appropriate for those skilled workers who are sponsored by their relatives or by a State or government or the so-called Skilled Sponsored Migrant Subclass 176.

                                           

If granted this Japan Work visa, the visa holder can live and work in the country on a permanent basis. Furthermore, the Japan Work visa holder can freely travel in and out of the country for the period of five (5) years from the issuance of the visa. Those who have dependents are allowed to bring their dependents to live, work or study in the country.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

these people have a choice not to come, slaves have no choice nor do they get paid its a ludicrous comparison

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is 3 years late but better than never. The decision for the worker to be able to stay and bring over his/her family should be up to the company that hires and ultimately sponsors him/her. Workers hired should not be just from Asian countries as China, Korea and Philippine. Many youth in European countries as Italy, Spain and Eastern Europe are looking for work. Everyone starts off as a low skilled worker and through experience become a high skilled worker. Japan should consider giving them a chance.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

wtfjapanm, you have a good attitude for success.

One of my quotes in my Ride The East Wind trilogy, Book II, The Wild Wild East.

"I would rather have tried and failed, than to never have tried at all."

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I hope they are all cleared when it comes to medical bills.... lol

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why blame Japan? All they want to do is hire foreigners (developing countries) to work for what they need for. Of course they have to work hard double of Japanese as it's not their country and they prefer to work abroad because of their personal, family, social problems.

Why Japan needs to hire high skilled people from poor countries? Then, who will work in those countries? These are the reasons why low key workers should be allowed to work abroad.

UK and US should do the same. Hire low key workers, NOT high skilled workers.

These workers will learn about life abroad by their own experience and some or most will go back to their country after few years and teach their people there.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

My advice to any foreigner coming here is learn the language, make contacts and do your own thing! thats the best advise anyone can learn from,

all the most successful gain I know in Japan are working for themselves myself included, yes I needed to work for a J company for the first 5 yrs but once I learned the business I now do it substantially better than most Japanese and even companies that have far more capital and resources than I. Working for J companies is soul sapping, so much so that if I was earning say 10million yen for the company I used to work for and had the option of taking a 50% paycut so I could do the business for myself, id happily take the pay cut. Independence and being your own boss is almost priceless in my opinion.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This skilled worker isn’t coming back until They learn to set the air conditioner in the office to about 23 degrees Celsius rather than the unhealthy 28 C designated by the Cool Biz campaign. I had skin issues every summer due to a constant state of sweatiness. Though me an the Mrs. have discussed retiring back to Japan which will be around 2040 and I am predicting around that time Japan’s economy will be collapsing due to its debt, aging population and refusal/difficulties integrating foreign workers. Those living in Japan now are at the front edge of fastest decline in population of an advanced nation ever seen in History.Japans population will drop from 130 million to around 90 million in 2040 assuming they don’t open the immigration floodgates. If that happens you cannot imagine the devastating effects of that economic decline. It will not be pretty, but it will be a much cheaper place to live if you are bring in foreign currency. You read it here first, assuming no drastic change in immigration policy, in 2040 the exchange rate for US$1=JPY¥300+.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

My opinion is that Okinawa most hospitable to foreigners.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The facade of a "nationalist" LDP will also disappear

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This policy will create internal divisions in LDP.

Pro-business factions vs. Nippon kaigi

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My advice to any foreigner coming here is learn the language, make contacts and do your own thing!

Also, doesn’t the BOJ want inflation?

Bringing exploitable foreigners here will lead to abuse, a decline in wages and resentment on all sides!!

I could be wrong but I’m not optimist .....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So I'm curious as to those on here who never have anything positive to say about these sort of matters.

Don't you people want the Japanese government to bring in more foreign workers? Don't you people usually claim that the 'xenophobic' Japanese government refuse to allow in foreign workers?

Is that not what is being done here? Can someone please explain to me what I am missing here?

The reason many take offense to the plan is because the policy seemingly lacks a future path in Japan for the workers. "Come here, serve us by doing the jobs that the Japanese don't want to do, but certainly leave promptly when you're no longer needed." There is no path to citizenship. There is no path to a future. There is only minimal pay. Sorry, but that's just plain offensive, and reminiscent of the type of superiority mindset that proved disastrous 75 years ago.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

...where many people don’t lock their doors or leave keys in their cars...

Everybody I know locks their doors. And their windows. And, plenty of people even close their storm shutters at night, not for storms but for security. The sound of opening shutters is a pretty normal sound in the morning.

Steel doors and bars on accessible windows are quite common, as well.

It's something I always thought odd in such a relatively low crime country.

(And they lock their cars too. What kind of idiot doesn't lock their car?)

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Middle Eastern countries have been doing this since the 1960s; their industries, infrastructure and healthcare systems were built on the backs of expat workers from all over the world. TCNs, or third continent nationals, provide the bulk of the cheap labour, as they stay from 2 years to 40 years, sending the majority of their tax-free income home to their families and children, to give them a better life. They rarely integrate with the locals, living in isolated housing compounds, are subject to abuse and a myriad of rules of regulations, and can be expelled for minor offences.

 It looks as if Japan is catching up and offering the same, although many docks; hotels and restaurants; bars, clubs and brothels; small industries and recycling business have been doing it for years, with both legal and illegal workers, with authorities paid to turn a blind eye. Their intern programmes are another well-known programme of mistreatment, almost paid slavery, and their hospital programme for care workers has not been very successful. 

However, the Yen and Dollar are very attractive; and the chance to earn what can be a fortune compared to what they can earn back home is a very strong incentive: and if they have to grin and bear it for a few years, they will do it. It’s not as if they have many options.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

goodlucktoyou:

i was deported and came back on a tourist visa and married my fiancée. Got 2-3 year spouse visas. No permanent visa yet. Been 10 years.

Deported? And no PR yet? Should I be surprised?

Yeah, good luck to you.

marcelito:

Any better ideas on how to get more people into labour force quick then?

Yeah, stop any payments to the unemployed. Beggars can't be choosers. A job is a job.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Work from 14 years old rather than foreign people. Accept decline of GDP instead of saying yes to major companies who wish more slaves like employees.

I get mad to see so many foreigners nowadays who are not tourists. My country has become a rubbish land because of that.

It is like environment protection, you need to make sacrifice to keep a good level and certainly not by using more "material" from the outside.

Most xenophobes are insecure, so they try to blame others for their jealous behavior.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Facing an aging population and a declining birth rate, Abe's government has tried to get more women and elderly people into the workforce, but economists say those measures alone may be insufficient.

The stupidity of the more women in the workforce will lead to an even bigger decline in the number of babies being born - a lot of Japanese don't have time to date now.

More elderly there were plenty of 60-70yr olds working in the Nagoya region last where are they gonna get the next batch? Will the labour department start "raiding" retirement homes.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@zichi. I know a few Brazilians who had a good life here in Kansai and saved a lot. But after abe, they felt life was better in Brazil and returned. But most have come back because life is very difficult in Brazil. Good point about them returning is they know the culture and language, and understand life working in Japanese factories.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

i can only shake my head upon seeing the anti immigrant sentiment espoused in here ...

a shrinking population is an existential threat to any country. duh.

even when you have a war you can mobilize the entire population, but with a slowly shrinking nobody can be bothered to do anything about it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Most xenophobes are insecure, so they try to blame others for their jealous behavior.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I advise these new workers to marry a Japanese then get permanent residency.

i was deported and came back on a tourist visa and married my fiancée. Got 2-3 year spouse visas. No permanent visa yet. Been 10 years.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

 then mock the Japanese government, saying they aren't doing enough to bring in more foreign workers because they are 'xenophobic.' No the J government isnt doing enough in supporting J families with free education , free childcare, free healthcare for kids up to high school etc. Instead of wasting money on crap. Until this happens Japanese wont have children. They clearly wont do this so they now will exploit foreign workers instead. If Japan wasn't 'xenophobic.' then why the need to exempt foreign workers from obtaining permanent residency after say 10yrs of work, why ban their families coming to live to make life bearable!?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

So I'm curious as to those on here who never have anything positive to say about these sort of matters.

Don't you people want the Japanese government to bring in more foreign workers? Don't you people usually claim that the 'xenophobic' Japanese government refuse to allow in foreign workers?

Is that not what is being done here? Can someone please explain to me what I am missing here?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Skilled workers and not just 'English speakers'... good plan.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"I advise these new workers to marry a Japanese then get permanent residency." thats already been tried by one of these workers, when his company found out they sent him home. These companies dont want the added cost of family leave , paternity leave , daycare , family spouse bonuses, etc. this is why they state that permanent residency and citizenship isnt an option. Japan only wants their labor , nothing else.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

When the Japanese government brings in foreign workers, the haters on here deride such efforts, saying it's only bringing in slave labor, they'll be treated unfairly, etc.

Yet, when the Japanese government talks about the shrinking population and work force, these same people then mock the Japanese government, saying they aren't doing enough to bring in more foreign workers because they are 'xenophobic.'

A lose-lose situation as always for the Japanese government in these haters eyes. Double standards as per usual.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Today, the number one choice of young Japanese people, is to work for the government, we do understand why. exactly my J brother inlaw is a economics graduate what is his job now. he worked in a few private companies in the past but the long working hrs didnt match the salary he was paid.

Now hes a government bus driver! you may say WTF, but he makes a decent salary , he can take his 4 weeks annual leave whenever he likes, and he just finished a whole year off as a type of paternity leave, at part pay. Its almost impossible for them to fire you unless they have a good reason like breaking the law etc. Job performance isnt linked to pay. This is why when you walk into a government office it look like everybody is sleeping.

Forget about working for a prestige private company like Toyota etc if you want a decent paying job with normal working hrs and good conditions a government job is the way to go. But dont expect it to be easy , even his job had huge applicants and you need to be smart just to pass the exam. You can see why so much talent is lost to the government sector which there is really no need for innovation or self promotion, until Japans private sector offers at least what the government sector does then this will continue

6 ( +6 / -0 )

"I advise these new workers to marry a Japanese then get permanent residency."

Oh oh, this comment may quickly have the politicians make another rule. No doubt their new rule will be, "No permanent residency, under any circumstances, for foreign workers hired under this program.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Living here for 20 years and for 20 years they have been saying the same thing. Total B.S.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

with a shrinking population there's no need to pretend to maintain the current GDP levels as GDP is only based on growth, not decline

Ratios of scale that can go up or down are going to have to be the new measuring system

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Good for Japan. it may seem good for Japan in the short term, but 500,000 unskilled workers at the minimum wage will just embolden employers to keep J staff salaries low and conditions minimal. Foreign workers will have to accept what their given or risk deportation. No chance of bringing family means no chance of babies being born as J citizens, no government support for their families, no need for family leave or paternity leave, no need for childcare costs, no chance of permanent residency or citizenship.

As the above poster just stated its basically minimum wage slave labor.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Today, the number one choice of young Japanese people, is to work for the government, we do understand why.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

What the government giveth', the government taketh' away.

There will be difficult and expensive rules to abide by, set in place by the government, for the employment of foreign workers. I have past experience.

500,000 by 2025, six or more years, some Japanese language skills, good luck. There are jobs available now that do not require spoken Japanese.

What's wrong with these politicians? THE GREAT NEED IS NOW! ! !

3 ( +5 / -2 )

 don’t have any idea about our complicated culture,

Complicated? Japanese culture is far from complicated.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

I believe it's called indentured servitude. These workers are not going to be able to save any money.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Just another way of saying paid slavery!

slaves don't get paid this does not make sense

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

There are enough Japanese people to do the work, but they're wisening up and not prepared to continue working under crap conditions, with egotistical higher ups stuck in an outdated and unwanted senpai system, and for an hourly rate that is beyond pathetic.

But many foreign workers from poorer nations will see this as an opportunity to be richer.

As others have said, it's nothing short of legalised slavery!

12 ( +12 / -0 )

So a middle class, wealthy country, one of the safest in the world, where many people don’t lock their doors

Ha!

9 ( +9 / -0 )

So a middle class, wealthy country, one of the safest in the world, where many people don’t lock their doors or leave keys in their cars and mostly only speak Japanese...will import half a million desperate workers, who can’t speak Japanese and don’t have any idea about our complicated culture, many could even be illiterate...great idea.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

"Japanese society will not rely heavily on foreign immigrants

No, of course Japan won’t rely heavily on foreign immigrants. They only want them to do all the crappy jobs for equally crappy pay and to treat them and second class citizens, just as it always has been.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

only certain skilled workers would be permitted to bring family members with them.

So they will have to be qualified to have families?

Well, that is slightly better than the earlier draft implying none of the 500,000 'immigrant workers' would be able to bring family members.

But I am guessing it will not be the kitenai, kikken, kitsui jobs going to the elite who qualify for families. And I am guessing those k.k.k. jobs will not be among the more high-paying, high prestige jobs — otherwise there will be plenty of Japanese college kids ... uh ... adults? ... in their recruitment suits polishing their shushoku katsudo ritual skills.

'Migrant workers' my -ss. Agree with Yubaru. Just a euphemism for human trafficking.

It appears the LDP is trying to use Quatar or the United Arab Emirates as the template for the economy ... the deft-left hand of omotenashi, raking in money from foreign tourists, and the right hand wielding the whip over low skilled foreign slave-labor.

Yokoso Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The government has not set a target for foreign workers under the new proposals, although local media put the figure at more than 500,000 people by 2025.

Never going to happen. I'd be surprised if they get a 1/5 of that

So many other more favourable options in Asia, no reason to take scraps and be treated poorly

Exactly!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Good luck Japan, you will need it!

7 ( +9 / -2 )

The government has not set a target for foreign workers under the new proposals, although local media put the figure at more than 500,000 people by 2025.

Never going to happen. I'd be surprised if they get a 1/5 of that

So many other more favourable options in Asia, no reason to take scraps and be treated poorly

8 ( +10 / -2 )

If you pay them, they will come.

But we don’t even pay our own .

13 ( +13 / -0 )

Just another way of saying paid slavery!

exactly

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Abe keep cheating his conservative supporters.

" Utsukushii Nipon wo torimodosu " LOL.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Good for Japan.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Just another way of saying paid slavery!

16 ( +19 / -3 )

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