Opinion on Abolishing the Technical Intern Training Program and Reforming the Specified Skilled Worker Program

• 日本語版（Japanese）

April 15, 2022

Japan Federation of Bar Associations

Introduction

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations compiled the “Opinion on Abolishing the Technical Intern Training Program and Reforming the Specified Skilled Worker Program” dated April 15, 2022, and submitted it on April 25 to the Prime Minister; the Minister of Justice; the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency; the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare; the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Minister for Foreign Affairs; the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications; the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and the President of the House of Councilors.

Summary of Opinion

The government should carry out the following measures in order to construct a system for accepting foreign workers that guarantees the protection of human rights:

1. Abolish the Technical Intern Training Program immediately.

2. Reform the Specified Skilled Worker Program to meet the following conditions:

1. ）Consolidate the residency status categories of Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii), begin accepting foreign unskilled workers under the Specified Skilled Worker Program who are currently accepted as Technical Intern Trainees, allow for extending the period of their stay in such program, and promote their settlement in Japan.
2. ）Allow for the possibility that foreign workers participating in the program may bring their families with them from the beginning, and include the period of stay under the program into the whole period of their stay with Authorization for Employment, which is a requirement for acquiring permission for permanent residence.
3. ）Ensure that foreign workers who participate in the program can change jobs.
4. ）Prohibit brokers from committing intermediate exploitation of the foreign workers who are participating in the program.

3.Implement the following to ensure the measures for protecting the rights of foreign workers and to support settlement of themselves and their families in Japan.

1. )  Thoroughly prohibit employment discrimination against foreign workers based on their nationality or ethnicity in work conditions such as wages.
2. )  Enhance mechanisms of consultation and dispute resolution in order to protect foreign workers' rights.
3. )  Enhance job training programs including Japanese language education and improve job referral services.
4. )  Provide foreign workers and their families with information on medical care, social security, pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, education, lifestyle, etc.