Japan will aim to promote smoother acceptance of legal foreign workers, while at the same time taking stronger measures to weed out illegal aliens, according to a revised edition of the Basic Plan for Immigration Control to be released today by the Justice Ministry.

The basic plan, designed to cover the five years to 2005, needs to be updated to reflect social changes such as rapid progress in internationalization, the aging and the depopulation of Japanese society, as well as the increasing number of foreigners illegally entering and staying in Japan, the ministry said.

The previous edition of the plan was released in 1992 as guidelines for the Immigration Control Law, which was amended in 1989. Basic plans are renewed when the ministry considers it necessary due to changes in social conditions, a ministry official said.

According to the latest basic plan, immigration authorities will consider letting more foreigners work in specialized and technical fields, such as telecommunications, and in multinational firms due to increasing needs voiced by economic circles.

In response to concerns over a shortage of nurses to care for the elderly, authorities may in the medium to long term introduce foreign specialists after studying the needs of society, the plan says.

The ministry will also continue to support student exchanges and cultural exchange programs as well as expand the scope of occupations legally permissible in Japan if necessary.

As for interns from developing countries, the government said it will expand the field to accept trainees and interns in order to help elevate their skills. It will also encourage related parties to establish a better environment for internships.

Regarding foreigners with permanent resident status, the ministry says it will consider ways for such people to achieve a more stable status in Japanese society.

In order to make administrative services more accessible, the ministry said it will consider establishing special counters at immigration offices that would put foreigners in contact with other government offices or nongovernmental organizations.

However, in view of its increased openness toward foreigners who legally stay in Japan, the ministry said it will take stricter measures to cope with cases of illegal entry, such as those smuggled in aboard ships or with forged passports.

It also aims to control immigration more effectively with a limited number of staff by using high technology as well as cooperating with investigative organizations.

When deporting those who illegally enter Japan, the ministry recognizes the need to try to educate immigration staff so that they treat foreigners appropriately and respect their rights, according to the plan.

On the granting of special permission to stay in Japan, the ministry said it will not adopt amnesty policies as is done in other countries. Instead, it will stick to the current policy, where the justice minister looks at each case on its individual merits and gives such permission if there are grounds for doing so.