”Japan enacts laws for new foreign worker scheme amid labor crisis," 14 June 2024

[Unofficial description by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

In June 2024, the Japanese Government enacted laws replacing the country's temporary labour migration programme, called the 'Technical Intern Training Program', with a new system.

The changes to the programme include a new measure that allows the government to remove workers' permanent residence status, a change that has faced criticism, including "concerns" from some migrants who have been residents of the country for several years and opposition lawmakers saying individual cases should be heard prior to the removal of permanent residency status.

However, the new programme also includes some measures which are designed to improve labour rights amid allegations of migrant worker abuse, including enabling workers to change employers to another in the same industry under certain conditions. Transfers will not be facilitated by private companies, to avoid abuse.