The envisaged creation of a new visa program to accept foreign workers may help ease Japan's labor woes, which look set to get worse in the coming years as the population ages.

But for a country known for keeping a firm grip on immigration, the challenges of opening up its labor market are manifold. Challenges ranging from social security issues to providing education and medical services are all concerns that will need to be addressed.

The program, a major shift from Japan's traditional policy of accepting primarily highly skilled professionals in principle, comes in response to growing calls on the government to address the situation from companies and industries facing acute labor shortages.