Japan Soon to Form Panel Related to New Resident Status

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government is set to form a task force within August in preparation for the introduction of a new resident status allowing foreigners to work in the country. The government, which aims to launch the new resident status in April 2019, hopes to support foreign workers' daily lives. The task force, including officials from related central government agencies, local governments and the business circle, will discuss how to provide sufficient Japanese language education, and medical and social welfare consultations to foreign workers, and help them secure adequate housing, informed sources said. Discussions by the group will be reflected in a comprehensive package of measures that the government will draw up by year-end, the sources said. To beef up immigration controls following the introduction of the new resident status, the government is considering establishing an immigration agency next April by upgrading the Justice Ministry's Immigration Bureau. Immigration officers and guards will be increased to more strictly check foreigners' work status and crack down on people illegally staying in Japan. The creation of the new resident status is aimed at coping with serious labor shortages in Japan reflecting a fall in its working population amid the aging of society and the sluggish birthrate. Under the new status, more than 500,000 foreigners are estimated to be accepted in the country to work in over 15 industries, including agriculture and manufacturing. END