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Old Japan, new
labor
By Suvendrini Kakuchi
TOKYO - It can be seen as an International
Labor Day bonus for those trying to seek their
fortunes in Japan. Since May 1, Tokyo has become
less fussy with unskilled foreign workers and has
started opening its labor market doors to them to
ward off a looming demographic crisis.
The
harsh reality confronting Japan's planners is a
rapidly aging population and fast-dwindling local
workforce. According to the United Nations,
Japan's population will decline from 127 million
in 2004 to 109 million in 2050. In effect, a
smaller working population will have to support a
larger group of pensioners.
"With Japan's
labor force expected to decrease by 10% in the
next 25 years, the economic outlook is far from
bright," said Julian Chapple, a lecturer with
Kyoto Sangyo University. "In all likelihood, the
domestic market will shrink, production will fall,
the government's revenue base will contract
inexorably and it will struggle to meet welfare
and medical payments for an increasing number of
elderly as the dependency ratio (the number of
workers supporting the elderly) will shift
dramatically," Chapple wrote in a recent report
for the Electronic Journal of Contemporary
Japanese Studies.
Studies indicate that in
1950, one elderly person was supported by 12
members of the working population, by 1990 it was
5.5 workers, and by 2020 it is estimated to be 2.3
workers. "Naturally the government is concerned
about such a scenario," wrote the lecturer. "The
question now is, how can Japan ease this predicted
slide, maintain its population and thereby ensure
economic security and continued prosperity?"
In early April, the Japanese government
unveiled a new immigration plan following a report
prepared by Japan's Justice Ministry asking the
cabinet to "firmly consider" bringing in unskilled
foreign workers. "After years of trying to ignore
the problem, Japan has finally realized the
important role of migrants in providing cheap
labor and stimulating the local economy," said
Katsunori Yoshinari, head of the Asia People's
Friendship Association, a non-governmental
organization.
The new policy represents a
shift for Japan, which has, till now, refused to
allow unskilled foreign labor into the country. It
has even been lukewarm about letting in more
skilled workers. "The program is in response to
Japanese companies that want the government to
consider accepting migrant workers," said
Shoichiro Okabe, an official at the Justice
Ministry. He explained the new policy would focus
on relaxed immigration controls accompanied by new
conditions when accepting unskilled labor such as
placing priority on Japanese language skills.
Farm, fisheries and forestry sectors are
expected to be the main beneficiaries of the new
policy, which will be effective for five years
starting May. A decision on which other sectors
would be allowed to invite foreign unskilled
workers is expected soon. Experts point out
Japan's tightly controlled immigration policy has
long ensured the homogeneity of Japanese society.
But such a stance has taken a severe beating
recently given domestic labor problems.
"Prying open Japan to foreigners is not an
easy task given the deep-rooted suspicion of
outside influences. Against such a background,
indications from the government itself to open up
its doors shows important changes," said Asia
Peoples Friendship Association's Yoshinari.
Indeed, several small towns and cities in Japan,
faced with labor crunches, have already started
studying programs to accept foreign workers.
Kimio Matsudaira, an official at Hello
Work, a public labor office in the city of Ota, in
Gumma prefecture near Tokyo, said there is now a
special program to help and support foreigners
working in the area. Ota has a population of about
200,000 people. The irony is that more than 60% of
its people are over 60, in a city where the
economy is dependent on manufacturing. Without
doubt, Ota needs foreign workers badly.
To
support the city's automobile and electronic
industries, Ota now hosts more than 30,000
Japanese Latin Americans, descendants of Japanese
who emigrated to South America in the early 20th
century seeking a better future. In the late
eighties, Japan launched a policy of accepting
third- and fourth-generation Japanese Latin
Americans to support a labor shortage in its
factories stemming from the bubble economy at that
time.
More recently, Asians, mostly from
Southeast Asia, have also arrived to work in
factories, comprising a total of 45,000 registered
workers in Ota. Matsudaira said foreign workers
are vital to the survival of Ota's economy. "In
order to have a smooth process of accepting
foreigners, we provide support services such as
language classes, driving lessons, private housing
and counseling. The system works very well."
Hiroaki Watanabe, an expert at the Japan
Labor Research Institute, a private think-tank,
said the latest move to accept unskilled migrant
labor, in contrast to skilled foreigners, must be
accompanied by such support services. "Moreover,
it is important to start with accepting small
numbers of unskilled workers to minimize social
problems in a closed domestic society that is not
ready for foreigners."
But public opinion
is sharply divided on foreign workers. A survey
last year asked people how they would feel about a
foreigner taking a job which no Japanese wanted.
Some 33% rejected the idea, 31% had no objections
and 29% would support it if there were no other
option, with the rest having no opinion or
undecided. Polls also show more Japanese fear
foreigners as a source of crime. Figures for 2004
show serious crimes fell by 4.4% year on year, but
crimes by foreigners - while accounting for a
minority of incidents - shot up by 16%.
(Inter Press
Service) |
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