Japan to Help Foreign Workers Get Jobs outside Big Cities

Tokyo, June 10 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government will take measures to encourage foreign workers with specific skills under the country's new visa status to land jobs outside big cities, officials said Monday. The measures are designed to prevent concentrations of such workers in urban areas, according to an understanding made by some members of a meeting of ministers on the acceptance of and coexistence with foreign workers. The measures will be decided officially at a plenary session soon. Specifically, the government will consider adopting preferential measures for a technical trainee switching to type one residential status with relatively low professional skills if the trainee continues to work for the same company. The measures include simplified procedures for the switch. The government hopes that the measures would help prevent technical trainees working for companies in rural areas from going to Tokyo or other urban areas for higher wages. In cooperation with Hello Work public job placement offices, the government will also select several municipalities where foreign workers will be encouraged to look for local jobs. The government will provide support to small firms and foreign workers there for two years to establish a model case of assistance. The meeting members also decided to create a facility with windows for consultations on visa issuances, employment and departures from and entry to Japan. The facility is expected to open in the Kanto eastern region including Tokyo as early as fiscal 2020. END