Photo:Yoshitaka Shindo, Chair of the LDP Foreign Worker Policy Headquarters, speaking at the opening of the meeting. Source: The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.
The Foreign Worker Policy Headquarters of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), chaired by House of Representatives member Yoshitaka Shindo, held a meeting on March 12 to review the progress of government measures following policy proposals submitted to the government in January.
In response to these recommendations, the government adopted a set of “Comprehensive Measures for Foreign Worker Policy” on January 23 and has begun implementing several initiatives, including stricter screening of foreign workers.
At the beginning of the meeting, Chairman Shindo emphasized that Japan will continue to advance foreign worker policies in order to address public concerns and ensure safety, order, and stability in local communities.
Several measures have already been implemented. For example, the screening process for converting foreign driver’s licenses to Japanese licenses has been tightened, reducing pass rates for both knowledge and practical tests to less than half of previous levels. The government has also revised the Guidelines for Permanent Residency and introduced stricter screening for foreign workers employed under dispatch arrangements with the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa category.
In addition, the cabinet has approved a bill to amend the Immigration Control Act to introduce the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) two years earlier than originally planned, with implementation scheduled for fiscal year 2030. The government is also considering raising the upper limits of fees related to residence status changes, extensions, and permanent residency applications.
The government plans to continue advancing foreign worker policies with urgency, including measures such as identifying property owners through real estate registration systems within the current fiscal year.
During the meeting, participating lawmakers also raised concerns about the need to strengthen penalties for employers who illegally hire foreign workers and to improve monitoring of international students’ enrollment status. They also emphasized the importance of providing accurate information to the public in order to counter misinformation.
By Hajime Saito
X: @hajimesaitoYJC
Source: The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. (Mar 13, 2026)
