Japan Must Reckon with How It Views Foreign Workers Japan's recent decision to raise fees for residence permits and tighten requirements for permanent residency has sparked a necessary conversation about the country's stance on foreign workers.
The government acknowledges its growing dependence on labor from abroad, with 2. 57 million foreign workers recorded at the end of October last year – a significant increase despite comprising only 3% of the workforce.
However, the government's actions seem to contradict this recognition, introducing changes that may deter long term settlement.