Japan needs more foreign workers but many feel unwelcome
Key takeaways
- While Japan faces a deepening labor shortage and growing demand for foreign workers, it has been moving to tighten visa rules and regulations.
- https://p.dw.com/p/5G6nj Japan's workforce is aging leading some to say that it could use more foreign workers Image: Philip FONG/AFPAdvertisement"I was shocked.
- In late May, the Japanese government enacted a bill raising the maximum fee for changing residency status or extending a period of stay tenfold from the current 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen by the end of March 2027.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
While Japan faces a deepening labor shortage and growing demand for foreign workers, it has been moving to tighten visa rules and regulations.
https://p.dw.com/p/5G6nj Japan's workforce is aging leading some to say that it could use more foreign workers Image: Philip FONG/AFPAdvertisement"I was shocked. It is too much to pay 100,000 yen to extend my visa every three years," said Srijana Suna, a 29-year-old Nepali woman who has been working at factories in Japan since 2018. She earns 145,000 yen ($900/€790) per month.
In late May, the Japanese government enacted a bill raising the maximum fee for changing residency status or extending a period of stay tenfold from the current 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen by the end of March 2027.