Japan battles Taiwan and South Korea for foreign workers

Tokyo relaxes strict rules, but competitive pay remains a challenge

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Under the new program, interns can attain the skill levels required for "specified skilled worker" status, a visa category that grants residency with no limits on renewals. (Photo by Rie Ishii)

EUGENE LANG, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japan seeks to become more attractive to international workers under legislation approved by the cabinet on Friday, as competition for foreign labor intensifies with South Korea and Taiwan.

As rising wages in other Asian nations undercut some of the attraction of working in Japan, there is a sense of urgency among policymakers here to create policies that allow foreign workers stay longer in the aging country.

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