Tokyo:Japan's decision to halt the acceptance of new foreign restaurant workers with Type I residency status in April has intensified the migration of these workers to urban areas, worsening labor shortages in rural regions.

According to Philippines News Agency, job openings for foreign workers with Type I status, which allows employment in Japan for up to five years, have increased 2.8 times since the policy change. A survey by Mynavi Global Corp. revealed that 46.4 percent of these workers, who found jobs in the restaurant industry by July, moved to six urban prefectures—Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Osaka, and Aichi—after previously working elsewhere. This marks a significant rise from 31.9 percent in March, prior to the suspension.

Motoki Yuzuriha, president of Mynavi Global, noted that the move to urban areas is often driven by the search for higher wages. He explained that many workers are seeking opportunities to obtain Type II status, which allows family accompaniment and leads to permanent residency.

A worker from Myanmar, who relocated to a Tokyo restaurant in July, shared that he left a regional sushi restaurant to pursue his passion for cooking, which his previous role did not allow. His new position offers a salary increase of 10,000-20,000 yen monthly, along with opportunities to gain the skills needed for Type II status.

To attain Type II status, applicants must have two years of management experience and pass an exam on restaurant operations, including cooking and hygiene. Yuzuriha emphasized the significance of a support system to aid workers in exam preparation from the start of their employment.

Hajime Inoue, a senior researcher at Japan Research Institute Ltd., highlighted the need for a revamped system to encourage foreign workers to remain in regional areas. He suggested providing incentives, such as relaxed residency application requirements, to make staying in these areas more appealing.