In a major development, Japan has expanded its foreign worker visa program for the first time since its introduction in 2019. This move is aimed at addressing the country’s severe shortage of drivers, allowing foreign workers to stay in Japan for up to five years.

According to Kyodo News, the expansion now covers four additional sectors: road and railway transportation, forestry, and timber industries. The growing demand for foreign labor in Japan is driven by several factors, with one of the key issues being a declining birth rate, alongside labor shortages in the transportation and logistics sectors. These shortages are expected to worsen with the upcoming “2024 problem,” which will impose new limits on overtime hours for drivers.

To counter these challenges, the Japanese government plans to admit up to 820,000 foreign workers under the skilled worker visa program over the next five fiscal years, beginning in April. This is a significant increase compared to the original target set for the five years ending in fiscal 2023.

The government has sought public input on these reforms and is preparing to update regulations, including those under the Justice Ministry, to ensure a smooth integration of skilled workers in the newly added sectors. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi has urged ministers to make the necessary preparations for welcoming foreign workers into these roles.

Under the revised program, foreign workers will be eligible for jobs such as bus, taxi, and truck drivers, as long as they are employed by companies certified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. This expansion is seen as a crucial step to help Japan meet its labor needs and keep the country’s transportation network running smoothly.