Abstract
Japan’s demographic changes over the past decades have prompted a sea change in immigration policy. Once such effect has been the influx of foreign labor to address labor shortage in various sectors of the economy. This paper examines the recent situation of foreign workers in Japan who have been impacted by these immigration policies, particularly considering the coronavirus pandemic. We present the results of in-depth interviews with such individuals to provide insight into their working and living conditions. We conclude that to date, the new immigration system has failed to live up to expectations, and if Japan wants to accept more foreign workers to boost its economy and realize faster progress in globalization, more efforts need to be made at both the national and local levels.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2022 Special Focus—What to Make of Crises: Emerging Methods, Principles, Actions
KEYWORDS
Migrants, Globalization, Foreign Labors, Japan
