Photo/Illutration Chinese technical intern trainees harvest “komatsuna” leafy vegetables at a farm in Ibaraki Prefecture. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet on March 15 approved a proposal to replace the heavily criticized technical intern training program with a new residence status for foreign workers.

A bill will be submitted to the Diet to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law to include the new residence status of “ikusei shuro” (training work).

The key feature of the new status is that it allows foreign workers to change jobs after working with that status for one to two years.

Each industry taking in such workers will decide on the period after which workers can change their places of employment.

Currently, those on the technical intern training program cannot change workplaces, even if they are being abused or have their rights violated.

If the legislation passes the current Diet session, the revised law would likely take effect about three years later.

The new residence status is intended to secure workers in industries facing labor shortages. Those on that visa will be expected to acquire skills equivalent to the Type 1 specified skilled worker status, and the industries covered by that program will be areas in which the training work status foreigner will be employed.

The training work visa will have an upper limit of three years, but if the individual obtains the required Japanese language and other skills, he or she could switch over to the specified skilled worker visa.

The proposed legislation will also include a provision that allows the government to retract the training work visa if the individual intentionally fails to pay taxes and social welfare insurance premiums.

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