Japan considers immigration cap after foreign resident population reaches 3%
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has established a new, internal project team to conduct a comprehensive, long-term review of the country’s policies on accepting foreign residents.
The move comes as the proportion of foreign-born residents in Japan’s population approaches three percent, with projections indicating that it could exceed ten percent in the future.
The new project team will be led by the agency’s deputy head and will consist of approximately 30 members.
It has been tasked with analyzing and anticipating future developments and considering a new approach to immigration at an early stage.
At a press conference last week, Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki stated, “In many countries, the issue (related to accepting foreign residents) has led to social divisions and political turmoil.”
Immigration issues are currently generating considerable interest in Japan, with the rise of the anti-immigration Sanseito party coinciding with increasingly frequent protests.
These protests have even gained the support of Tesla and Space X CEO Elon Musk, who is a frequent commenter on the subject of immigration.
An interim report released by the agency noted that Japan’s foreign population could rise to the current average among OECD countries, over ten percent, by the year 2070.
The report stressed that, rather than continuing with the “ad hoc” measures of the past, the government as a whole “must now undertake a necessary review.”
The review will cover seven key areas, including economic growth, labor policy, tax and social security, community life, and public safety.
One of the most significant issues that will be considered by the new team is whether or not to set a cap on the total number of foreign residents in the country.
This comprehensive review signals a potential, major shift in the long-term immigration strategy for a nation that is grappling with a declining birth rate and a severe worker shortage.
Source: The Mainichi
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