Japanese government is considering increasing the number of foreign construction workers, which was agreed at the ministerial meeting on January 24. Plans such as extension of the foreign trainees’ allowable stay period from current three to five, re-entry permission of trainees, raising the maximum limit of acceptance are to be discussed. Responding to requests by the industry, the government intends to take temporary measures urgently to cover the shortage of workers stemming from increasing number of public construction works toward Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 with work-ready forces from outside the country.

The meeting was attended by relevant ministers including Land Minister Akihiro Ota, Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, and Labor Minister Norihisa Tamura. The further discussion will be led by Special Advisor to Prime Minister Hiroto Izumi with members from each ministry. The government will revise the operational rules of Immigration Control Act by June and then intends to put the measures into effect. Acceptance of foreign labors is scheduled to start in the beginning of fiscal 2015.

Taking advantage of foreign trainees can benefit Japanese construction companies in terms of securing future skilled local workers in overseas infrastructure development, as well as mitigating labor shortage in the nation.

Land minister Ota said at the press conference on the same day that he intended to raise the current number of 15,000 workers to some more. According to the ministry’s record, 4595 applications were accepted in fiscal 2012. 3253 workers from China was the largest number, followed by 491 from Vietnam, 392 from Philippines, 313 from Indonesia, 64 from Mongolia, 37 from Cambodia, and 32 from Thailand. (2014/01/27)