Gov't submits bill to open doors to blue-collar workers from overseas

The government on Friday submitted to the Diet a bill to grant work rights to foreign blue-collar laborers in a major policy shift for Japan, which has hitherto largely restricted imported labor.The bill would create a new visa status to accept foreign workers in various sectors deemed seriously short of labor, ranging from construction and farming to nursing care. The system, under certain conditions, could pave the way for them to live permanently in Japan."Labor shortages are starting to become a major factor hampering economic growth. We will create a proper system," Prime Minister Shin…READ FULL ARTICLE