A group of foreign nationals who have remained in Japan past the expiration of their visas submitted a petition to the Justice Ministry on Monday, urging the ministry to issue special permission for them to stay in Japan.
The petition is part of the first organized action taken by workers overstaying their visas and their relatives to demand an amnesty, according to the Asian People's Friendship Society, a citizens' group supporting them.
A total of 21 people from Bangladesh, Iran and Myanmar who have lived here about 10 years and their supporters submitted the petition, bearing the signatures of members of 110 citizens' groups nationwide that support their actions.