Japan eyes adding drivers, railway workers to skilled worker visa

First expansion of program could accommodate tens of thousands more workers

20240126N taxis for japan worker visa

Taxi drivers are expected to be among new categories covered by Japan's "specified skilled worker" visa program. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)

EUGENE LANG, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japan is preparing to add four new fields, including road transportation and rail, to its "specified skilled worker" visa aimed at alleviating labor shortages in especially hard-hit industries, Nikkei has learned.

These would mark the first additions to the initial 12 fields covered by the program when it was introduced in 2019. The additions are expected to accommodate tens of thousands more foreign workers.

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