On May 15, the Japanese government established a new policy for the "Specified Skills" system for foreign workers, planning to add three industries—logistics and warehouse management, waste disposal, and linen product supply—to the applicable fields. This move aims to alleviate severe labor shortages, expanding the covered industries from the current 16 to 19.
The Specified Skills system is a residence status for foreigners with specific professional skills, currently applicable to 16 industries, including nursing, construction, and agriculture. Facing intensifying labor shortages across various sectors, the Japanese government recently drafted a plan to expand the program and presented it to a relevant Liberal Democratic Party meeting on the 15th.
According to the draft, the three new fields to be added are "logistics and warehouse management," "waste disposal," and "linen product supply." Notably, to train foreign talent meeting the Specified Skills standards, the plan specifies that these fields will also be included in the "training and employment system" to be implemented in fiscal year 2025.
In terms of system design, while standards should generally be uniform, considering that some industries require higher professional expertise, the draft proposes excluding the automotive transport and aviation sectors, ultimately designating the remaining 17 industries as applicable for the training and employment system.
The Japanese government plans to hold an expert meeting as early as next week to deliberate on operational guidelines, including the specific number of workers to be accepted in each industry. The expert meetings will soon begin discussions, aiming to reach a cabinet resolution by December.
Currently, industries such as logistics and warehouse management, hotel linen supply, and waste resource processing face severe labor shortages. The meeting concluded that introducing foreign workers has become a necessary measure to sustain economic activities.
Related reading: Complete Guide to Japan’s Specified Skills Visa: 16 Industries, Application Requirements, and Average Income
