Japan caps foreign workers at 1.23 million, plans to reopen recruitment in three sectors
Summary
Japan will resume accepting foreign workers for meal services at hospitals, welfare facilities and schools from April next year as an emergency step to ease staff shortages. The government also plans to raise the cap for elderly care workers and keep the overall foreign worker limit at 1,231,900 through fiscal 2028.
Key Points
- Japan plans to reopen foreign worker recruitment for meal services in hospitals, welfare facilities and schools from April next year.
- Meal services will be reclassified under the food and beverage manufacturing category in Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker visa program.
- The cap for Type 1 foreign workers in the elderly care sector will rise by 20,000 to 146,900.
- Japan will keep the overall cap on foreign workers at 1,231,900 until the end of fiscal year 2028.
