ID :
36380
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 22:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/36380
The shortlink copeid
Panel proposes unified household-based foreigner registration system
TOKYO, Dec. 18 Kyodo - A ministerial panel of experts on Thursday recommended the central government set up a unified household-based resident registration system for foreign nationals similar to the one for Japanese, eyeing its inauguration in 2012 and
scrapping the current two-tier tracking method.
For around 2.15 million foreign residents, the central government's Justice
Ministry is currently controlling immigration and resident permit issuances,
while resident registration is undertaken by local governments.
The two-tier method of registering individual foreigners hampers the government
in tracking foreign residents and their family composition, creating some
obstacles in collecting taxes and offering services, according to officials.
The unified household-based method is deemed to give foreign residents better
access to welfare, schooling and others services as members of local
communities, while critics say it would give the government increased
surveillance power over foreigners.
The report by the panel under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications proposes that the current foreigner registration data sheet
produced for each individual be replaced by a household-based registry that
would contain such information as the name, address, nationality, stay permit
qualification and stay period.
The panel says the state should control data and they should be made available
at municipal offices and all data registration procedures should be made all at
once.
The report also says it should be made mandatory for foreigners to submit
filings when moving in and moving out so that local governments can accurately
determine where they live, and such data should be likened to the ''juki''
network of resident registration systems for the Japanese.
The juki network allows all local governments to share information on foreigners.
Based on the recommendation report, the internal affairs ministry will submit a
bill for the envisaged foreigner registry system to an ordinary Diet session
next year, ministry officials said.
==Kyodo
scrapping the current two-tier tracking method.
For around 2.15 million foreign residents, the central government's Justice
Ministry is currently controlling immigration and resident permit issuances,
while resident registration is undertaken by local governments.
The two-tier method of registering individual foreigners hampers the government
in tracking foreign residents and their family composition, creating some
obstacles in collecting taxes and offering services, according to officials.
The unified household-based method is deemed to give foreign residents better
access to welfare, schooling and others services as members of local
communities, while critics say it would give the government increased
surveillance power over foreigners.
The report by the panel under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications proposes that the current foreigner registration data sheet
produced for each individual be replaced by a household-based registry that
would contain such information as the name, address, nationality, stay permit
qualification and stay period.
The panel says the state should control data and they should be made available
at municipal offices and all data registration procedures should be made all at
once.
The report also says it should be made mandatory for foreigners to submit
filings when moving in and moving out so that local governments can accurately
determine where they live, and such data should be likened to the ''juki''
network of resident registration systems for the Japanese.
The juki network allows all local governments to share information on foreigners.
Based on the recommendation report, the internal affairs ministry will submit a
bill for the envisaged foreigner registry system to an ordinary Diet session
next year, ministry officials said.
==Kyodo
