Tokyo: Japan has announced its plan to welcome up to 1,231,900 foreign workers by the end of fiscal year 2028 as part of its specified skilled worker residency and skill development programs. This initiative is aimed at addressing the labor shortages in various sectors of the Japanese economy.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Japanese government has expanded the list of job sectors where foreign workers can be employed, now including linen supply, distribution and warehousing, and resources recycling. The plan involves accepting up to 805,700 foreign workers with type 1 residency status under the specified skills scheme across 19 fields. This status allows foreign nationals to stay in the country for a maximum of five years.

The government is also set to introduce a new skill development and employment program in fiscal 2027, starting in April next year, which will allow up to 426,200 foreigners to enter Japan across 17 fields. This program aims to replace the existing technical intern system and is designed to enable participants to attain type 1 residency status within three years.

The decision on the number of foreign workers was made by estimating the labor needs in each sector and considering the number of workers expected to be secured domestically along with productivity improvements. In contrast to the current technical intern system, which restricts foreign workers from changing workplaces, the new program will offer more flexibility by allowing job changes after a certain period, addressing previous criticisms of poor working conditions.