Japan Immigration News

Local approaches to Japan's immigration challenges

Release Date: 2024-11-08
Media: EAST ASIA FORUM
Summary: Japan annually accepts around 330,000 international migrant workers, positioning it as the fifth among OECD nations for labor immigration. As of October 2023, Japan hosts over two million foreign workers, with the largest categories being permanent residents, skilled professionals, and technical interns. While many migrants initially view their stay as temporary, they often settle long-term, sometimes raising families. However, Japan restricts residency and family accompaniment, except for highly skilled professionals, and lacks clear pathways to long-term employment for most foreign workers.

Responding to criticism, Japan renamed the "Technical Intern Training Program" to the "Training and Employment System" (TES) in June 2024, allowing workers more freedom to change employers within the same field after one or two years, aiming to enhance skill-building and retention. TES graduates in the "Specified Skilled Worker (Type Two)" program can bring families and potentially gain permanent residency, though these benefits are limited to 15 fields.

In the absence of comprehensive national immigration strategies, municipalities like Kawasaki and Hamamatsu are advancing local integration policies. Kawasaki, with a notable history of Korean residents, established the Kawasaki City Representative Assembly for Foreign Residents (KCRA) in 1996, empowering non-citizens in policy-making. The KCRA has proposed numerous policies addressing discrimination and advocating for broader welfare access and local voting rights. Hamamatsu, another city with a significant foreign population, leads the Council of Municipalities with Large Migrant Populations (CMLMP), facilitating inter-city cooperation and lobbying for foreign residents' rights.

The Japanese government faces pressure to create a strategic immigration policy to address workforce needs while aligning with demographic goals. Local efforts underline the necessity for a cohesive national approach to ensure foreign residents’ integration in accordance with international standards.
Tags: Immigration Policy

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