Japan may open over 10 industries to foreign workers with new residency status: Suga

TOKYO -- Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Sept. 26 that the government will consider opening up more than 10 industries to foreign workers with a new five-year residency status to be introduced in April next year.

"More than 10 industries will face serious trouble without foreign workers," Suga said in a speech he gave in Tokyo.

Suga said the government intends to submit related bills to the extraordinary session of the Diet this fall to begin accepting more foreign workers next spring. According to government officials, sectors under consideration to be opened up to workers from abroad include the farm, forestry, fisheries, construction, nursing care, accommodation and food service industries.

(Japanese original by Katsuya Takahashi, Political News Department)