26/01/2024
【SSW Expansion to Include Drivers and Three Other Sectors】
The Japanese government is planning to expand the acceptance of foreign workers in sectors facing severe labor shortages. Under the "Specified Skilled Worker" program, consideration is being given to adding four more industries, including the automobile transportation industry, forestry, timber industry, and the railway industry. This program permits the acceptance of foreign workers specifically in fields where labor shortages are particularly critical, despite efforts to improve productivity and secure domestic talent. Currently, foreign workers are employed in 12 sectors, including manufacturing, caregiving, and construction, and the expansion will significantly increase the labor force in these fields.
In the transportation industry, the “2024 problem” is highlighted due to regulations setting an upper limit on overtime hours, posing a potential stagnation in logistics. To address this, the government has decided to partially lift the ban on ridesharing, enabling foreign workers to be employed as drivers.
The Specified Skilled Worker program consists of two categories: Category 1 (up to 5 years, renewable) and Category 2 (renewable and allows family accompaniment). In addition, reforms are being made, such as transforming the Technical Intern Training program into the "Cultivation and Employment" program and relaxing restrictions on job changes.
With the anticipated increase in foreign workers, urgent measures are needed to prepare the acceptance environment, including multilingual support in public institutions and the expansion of Japanese language classes. Through these measures, Japan aims to become a preferred destination for foreign talent, thereby addressing the domestic labor shortage.
