The Abe administration's sudden plan to use workers from overseas to make up for Japan's labor shortage has not been given sufficient public discussion. As the policy smacks of merely serving Japan's convenience, it could cause problems that outweigh the intended benefits.
Particularly problematic is a plan to utilize participants in a controversial foreign trainee program to fill the manpower shortage in the nation's construction industry. Government leaders should be reminded that the purpose of the Industrial Trainee and Technical Internship Program, which began in 1993, is to transfer skills, expertise, knowledge and technology to developing countries by training those countries' workers.
After receiving basic training at Japanese companies, the participants are to improve their skills by working at the firms. They can stay in Japan up to three years. Currently some 150,000 participants in the program work in such sectors as construction, textile, food processing, machinery, metal working and agriculture.