The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will consider asking the central government for special deregulated zone status so it can bring in more foreign housekeepers, emulating the Kanagawa and Osaka prefectural governments, Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe said Tuesday.
Japan's strict immigration policy has prevented foreigners from entering the country for domestic work, such as housekeeping, cooking, laundry and baby-sitting.
But, given Japan's projected labor shortage and low birth rate, the central government is designating several special deregulated zones where prefectural governments can authorize private personnel agencies to introduce housekeepers from overseas.