TOKYO: The Japanese government has proposed to include the field of aviation to its residential status of foreign workers under its employment for skill development programme at a meeting of an expert panel on Wednesday (Sept 9),
The proposal, if approved, will replace the current technical intern training programe in April next year.
The envisaged job in the aviation field is airport ground handling, which includes such tasks as support for planes taking off and landing and air cargo handling services.
The government aims for the proposal to be approved at a Cabinet meeting in December.
Currently, the upper limit for accepting foreign workers with Type 1 Specified Skilled Worker residentia status in the field of aviation is 4,900 people. The government will respond to the change by transferring slots for 300 of them to the new programme.
There will therefore be no change to the upper limit of foreign workers to be accepted by the end of fiscal 2028, which is about 1.23 million and will consist of those accepted in the new programme and those with Type 1 Specified Skilled Worker residential status.
With the addition of aviation, there will be 18 fields that accept foreign workers in the employment for skill development system. The shortage of ground staff is said to be growing serious, particularly at regional airports. - The Japan News/ANN
