A Justice Ministry panel discussing long-term policies for accepting overseas workers said Friday the government should seek out those with special skills and expertise to cope with the shrinking labor force in Japan.
"The debate on whether to allow foreigners to enter the country and work here is over. The question now is how we should receive them," Senior Vice Justice Minister Taro Kono said at a news conference.
The proposal by the panel headed by Kono also claimed that reducing the number of illegal foreign residents will help the country regain its reputation as "the safest country in the world," ultimately creating an environment where legal foreign workers can become a part of society.