Japan Immigration News

Japan’s New Bill to Strip Permanent Residency Based on Shaky Data

Release Date: 2024-05-18
Media: UNSEEN JAPAN
Summary: Japan's government is pushing a bill to allow the revocation of permanent residency for foreigners who intentionally fail to pay taxes or social insurance premiums. While the bill has been approved by the House of Representatives, critics argue it is based on incomplete and inconclusive data. The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) presented data showing that 10% of permanent residents may have unpaid taxes, but the sample size was small (1,825 individuals out of 890,000), and it did not determine how many would actually fall under the new law.

Opposition parties, such as the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), criticized the lack of sufficient data and argued that the law could unfairly target foreign residents. Some also expressed concerns that even cases of unpaid taxes due to illness or job loss could be treated as "intentional" under the new law.

The bill is part of broader immigration reforms, including the replacement of the controversial technical intern training program with a new system aimed at addressing Japan's labor shortage. Critics argue that the law may discourage foreign talent at a time when Japan needs to attract skilled workers, particularly due to its aging population and declining birthrate. If the bill passes the House of Councillors, it could become law by 2027, potentially affecting 27% of the foreign population in Japan.
Tags: Permanent Resident

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