The number of construction workers from overseas under the program that begun in April 2015 surpassed 400, said Japanese Infrastructure Ministry. It is estimated that the total number of the approved foreign workers will reach 1,000 by March 2017. By nationality, Chinese, 191 are the most in number, followed by Indonesia, 74 and Vietnam, 68. By occupation, carpenters are numbered most at 69 and scaffolding workers at 67.

The program in which the ministry allows former trainees to return to work in Japan or extend the period of work permit up to three years launched last year as an emergency measure to deal with growing construction demands toward the 2020 Olympic Games. (2016/04/04)