Japan agency launches platform to help foreign workers

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has set up the Japan Platform for Migrant Workers towards Responsible and Inclusive Society (JP Mirai) to support foreign workers.
By: | December 22, 2020
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The platform will bring together local governments, employers, NPOs and other relevant organisations to address issues relating to foreign workers, including regulatory compliance and appropriate consideration towards foreign workers from member companies, their supply chains, and related businesses. 

JP Mirai will handle matters like the handling of technical intern trainees by businesses, and employment issues at supply chain affiliates. 

The initiative was prompted by a growing shift towards permanent residency among migrant workers, said Shimizu Masayoshi, mayor of Ōta in Gunma prefecture, adding that these workers are now indispensable to major automotive maker Subaru and other manufacturers in Ōta. 

Japan is increasingly relying on foreign labour as its own population declines. By the end of 2019, Japan’s foreign population had grown to 2.93 million. 

This reliance is now more pronounced with the pandemic effectively freezing the intake of foreign labour.  

READ: Stranded foreign nationals in Japan can now work part time

JP Mirai’s corporate members include Toyota, Aeon, Seven & i Holdings, SoftBank, Asics, and Miki House, said Nippon.com. 

JICA is a governmental agency that delivers the bulk of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.