Japan eyes capping foreign workers at 426,000Listen to this articlePedestrians cross a street in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec 15, 2025. A combined 1.23 million foreign workers would be accepted under the existing and new programmes, according to the draft. The new training programme covers 17 areas, including agriculture and construction, compared with 19 sectors covered in the existing specified skilled worker programme. The first group consists of foreign nationals who work in jobs that require "considerable knowledge or experience," whereas the second group represents foreign nationals with more advanced "proficient skills," according to the government. Only foreign nationals with the status of Specified Skilled Workers I are subject to the planned cap in principle.

Source: Bangkok Post December 23, 2025 18:11 UTC