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Japan preparing to add transport roles to skilled visa amid shortages

Release Date
2024-01-28
Media
KYODO NEWS
Summary
Japan is planning to expand its foreign blue-collar skilled worker visa system, adding four new sectors, including transportation, to address labor shortages. The move will increase the number of eligible industries for the Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa to 16, including road transportation, railways, forestry, and timber. This is the first expansion of the system since its introduction in 2019.

The Japanese government, under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, aims to decide on including these sectors by the end of the current fiscal year (March 31). The expansion comes in response to Japan's growing need for foreign labor, exacerbated by a declining birthrate and concerns about worker shortages in industries like transportation and logistics, especially with new overtime rules for drivers set to take effect in April 2024.

Under the No. 1 visa, foreign workers must pass tests demonstrating both professional skills and proficiency in Japanese. The No. 2 visa allows unlimited renewals and permits workers to bring their families to Japan. The government has already expanded the scope of industries eligible for the No. 2 visa, but uptake of both visas has been lower than expected. By November 2023, around 200,000 people held the No. 1 visa, but only 29 had the No. 2 visa, far below the original target of 345,150 holders by March 2024.
Tags
Specified Skilled Worker

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