Japan looking to add industries which may renew visas of foreign workers

According to Dano Tincungco's report on "24 Oras", Nikkei reported that Japan is studying increasing to 12 the number of industries which may renew the resident visas of their foreign workers.

Japan aims to increase its skilled workers amid a slow population increase compared to the aging population. It is also studying to grant them permanent resident status and allow their spouses and children to join them in Japan.

GMA Integrated News is still trying to get a comment from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) regarding this matter.

Industries in Japan with five-year SSW visas for foreign workers include nursing, machine parts and tooling, industrial machinery, electric electronics and information, construction, shipbuilding and ship machinery, automobile repair and maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery and aquaculture, and food and beverage service.

Those in construction, shipbuilding, and nursing may get resident visas.

The plan to increase the number of industries that may renew visas is likely to be approved in June and is expected to be implemented in 2024.

This makes it convenient for Marielle, a tomato farmer in Kumamoto-Ken Prefecture in Japan.

“Kung sakaling maaprubahan siya, sobrang thankful kami, hindi na gagastos nang sobrang laki para makauwi dito para ma-process yung paperas papuntang Japan,” she said.

With their special skilled worker visa expiring every five years, workers like Marielle need to come home to the Philippines to again process their papers. —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News