Photo/Illutration The Justice Ministry (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The government plans to allow foreign nationals to switch jobs after working for one to two years, instead of the initially planned “at least one year,” under a new system that will replace the Technical Intern Training Program. 

The longer minimum working period has been proposed after ruling party lawmakers expressed concerns that the one-year requirement would be too short. 

Each industry would be allowed to set a period within the range of one to two years, according to a revised draft of the outline of a final report presented on Nov. 15 at a closed-door meeting of a government expert panel that is discussing the new program.

In principle, the Technical Intern Training Program does not permit transfers to other companies.

It has been criticized as a breeding ground for human rights violations because it is difficult for foreign trainees to change workplaces even if they are being poorly treated.

Therefore, the initial proposal for the new program was to allow transfers to other companies in the same business field if trainees meet certain requirements, such as passing a basic skills test, proving elementary Japanese language proficiency and having worked for the same company for at least one year.

However, members of a related division of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and other critics raised concerns.

Some said it would be too soon to permit transfers. Others said it would result in an exodus of foreign workers from rural to urban areas.

As a result, the expert panel’s secretariat, including officials of the Immigration Services Agency, presented the revised draft.

During the expert panel’s meeting on Nov. 15, some members said the uniform period of at least one year should be maintained.

The panel will continue discussions and compile the final report as early as this year. The government plans to then submit a related bill to the ordinary Diet session next year, at the earliest.

The revised draft said transfers would be permitted after working at least one year, in principle.

However, if it is recognized that more time is needed for human resources development, each industry could set a minimum working period of “not more than two years,” although such periods would be allowed only “for the time being.”

A new council comprising experts and representatives of labor and management organizations would discuss a necessary working period before any transfers based on explanations from each industry and the ministries and agencies in charge.

The government would then make the final decision based on the opinions of the council.

The revised draft said any industry that set its own working period would be required to raise salaries and improve other working conditions after one year of employment.

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