Japan’s largest opposition party has submitted a bill to the Lower House that would allow Ukrainians fleeing the invasion of their country by Russia to work in Japan for one year after arrival.
Current government policy allows Ukrainians who have fled their country to receive a temporary, 90-day status of residence, with refugee screening and employment during that time not allowed. The proposal by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), submitted Tuesday, would allow those from Ukraine and other countries who have left their homeland due to war or other reasons to obtain a special status of residence that gives them permission to work in Japan for one year from the date they enter the country.
"In terms of specified activities (allowed for refugees), the government has discretion over employment and other matters. The legal status is extremely unstable,” CDP deputy policy chief Takeshi Shina told reporters after the bill’s submission.