Tokyo: Japanese government bodies, including the Immigration Services Agency, have proposed capping the number of foreign workers with specified skilled worker status and under a planned new skill development and employment program at 1,231,900 through the end of fiscal 2028. This proposal was made during a meeting of experts where plans were also submitted to add three job sectors for foreign workers: linen supply, distribution and warehousing, and resource recycling.

According to Philippines News Agency, the government aims to adopt these plans in a Cabinet meeting scheduled for January. The proposal includes setting a ceiling of 805,700 for foreign workers with type 1 residency status under the specified skills scheme, which permits stays of up to five years in Japan. The new skill development and employment program, expected to begin in April 2027, will replace the current technical intern system for foreigners and is set to accept a maximum of 426,200 people across 17 fields.

The caps were determined by estimating the required number of workers in each field, subtracting the expected number of domestically secured workers from the projected need, and considering productivity improvements. Notably, the proposed limit for specified skilled workers is slightly lower than the caps set in March 2024 for many fields.

Under the new skill development program, approximately 120,000 foreigners could be accepted in each of the construction and industrial product manufacturing sectors, with about 60,000 in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. For the three newly added fields, the combined cap under the specified skills system and the new program would be set at 7,700 for linen supply, 18,300 for distribution and warehousing, and 4,500 for resource recycling.

As of the end of June, Japan had 333,123 foreign residents with type 1 specified skilled worker status and 449,432 technical interns, based on official data.