In a bid to address the country’s driver shortage, the government of Japan has decided to add four new industries to its foreign skilled worker visa program, bringing the eligible industries under the Specified Skilled Worker No.1 visa to 16.
The recent decision covers road and railway transportation as well as forestry and timber industries, and it’s the first since the system was introduced in 2019, VisaGuide.World reports.
Among the reasons that the East Asian country is dealing with labor shortages is a declining birthrate. Besides, there are also concerns about pronounced shortages in the transportation and logistics industries and it may get worse when a new rule limits how much overtime drivers can work, starting April 2024, known as “2024 problem” according to a report from the Japan Times.
The government also plans to revise relevant regulations, taking into account those under the Justice Ministry, in order to make the process of acceptance of skilled workers in the newly added sector easier.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi urged relevant ministers “make preparations to accept (the foreign workers) without delay and to make efforts to realize an inclusive society.” Hayashi’s request came ahead of the Cabinet decision.
The new changes allow internationals to work as taxi, bus and truck drivers in Japan. They need to join companies certified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.
Bus and taxi drivers in Japan are required to pass the N3 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. After bus and taxi drivers often communicate with passengers, the requirement is stricter than what is needed for other jobs.
Internationals with a No.1 visa are required to pass a test showing they have the skills to work immediately, while the No.2 visa allows for unlimited renewals, thus leading to permanent residency in Japan. Besides, it also permits workers to bring their families with them.
Statistics from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan revealed that about 208,000 workers were registered in the country on the No.1 visa at the end of December 2023, and just 37 with the No.2 visa.
Attracting 800,000 Skiller Workers in Next 5 Years
As part of efforts to tackle the shortage of workers in specific industries such as agriculture, construction and manufacturing, the government of Japan unfolded plans to attract 800,000 skilled foreign workers in the next five years.
Type 1 status is issued to international workers engaged in 12 areas, such as nursing, food service, construction and manufacturing of industrial products and agriculture. Type 2 is issued for the same areas, excluding nursing care, with the government unfolding plans to add four areas including automobile transport and forestry to the scope of Type 1.