Japan: New Policies for Foreign Ag Labor in Japan

With the aging of the population and the decline in the number of people in rural areas, securing labor in the field of agriculture has become more challenging in Japan. While the number of visa holders in agriculture has increased 45 percent compared to April 2019, when the new visa program targeting foreign workers that have specific skills and abilities was introduced, the majority of workers still gain employment through the Technical Intern Program, which has faced ongoing criticism due to humans' rights violations and inadequate support. The Japanese government recently enacted revised laws to develop a new system which places focus on nurturing and securing foreign talent starting in 2027.