The Japanese government is set to allow employers to conduct criminal background checks going back more than 10 years under a new system to block sex offenders from jobs involving children, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.
The move comes as parent and child support groups have been calling for the system's establishment. But there are concerns that a disclosure period exceeding 10 years could conflict with the criminal law in terms of giving those who have atoned for their guilt a chance to be rehabilitated.
The government aims to submit a relevant bill to an ordinary Diet session next year, the sources said.