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Citizenship for kids still tall order
Many observers of the Nationality Law have welcomed the government’s proposed revision approved Tuesday by the Cabinet that will soon allow hundreds of children born out of wedlock to Japanese men and foreign women to obtain Japanese nationality if the father recognizes paternity even after birth. Despite what seems to be a positive move, however,…
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Bill outlawing daily dispatch of temps OK’d
A bill to effectively ban staff agencies from dispatching workers on a daily basis was approved by the government Tuesday, boosting the protection of temporary workers. The amendment to the worker dispatch law would bar staffing agencies from dispatching registered workers for day work or less than 30 days’ employment. But people in 18 professional…
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Japan’s “working poor” at risk as recession hits
When Miwa Takeuchi found out her part-time clerical job had been outsourced to a Japanese temp staffing agency and she’d have to work longer hours for lower pay, she was relieved. At least she was still employed. Three years later, Takeuchi, a single mother and one of Japan’s growing ranks of “working poor” who struggle…
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1 year on, Nova’s failure leaves scars
Even though it has been a year since Nova applied for court protection under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law, the central government has done little to ensure the private language school industry improves its operations. The failure of Nova, which was the largest language school in the nation, has sowed public distrust in the industry. Moreover,…
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Japan’s young turn to Communist Party as they decide capitalism has let them down
With its gleaming designer stores, the world’s second largest economy and an insatiable appetite for luxury labels, Japan has long been regarded as the land of the rising capitalist. But a wave of discontent among its younger workers is fuelling a change in the nation’s political landscape: communism is suddenly back in fashion. What many…
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Ex-Nova students sue management for compensation
A group of 24 former students of failed language school operator Nova Corp. lodged a suit for damages Friday against former Nova management and two audit companies, seeking a total of 16 million yen in compensation to cover prepaid tuition. It was the first time that former Nova students have filed a class action suit…
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Cities demand more support for foreigners
A group of 26 cities and towns with large foreign communities adopted a declaration Wednesday calling on the government to form a new agency to comprehensively deal with immigration policies and beef up efforts to strengthen Japanese language education. “More and more foreigners are expected to come to Japan as workers in the years ahead…
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Keidanren: Immigrant worker influx vital to halt labor shortage
Japan should expedite an increase in immigrant labor to engage in fields ranging from welfare to manufacturing, construction and agriculture to offset the shrinking domestic workforce, the nation’s largest business lobby said Tuesday. Japan has essentially not accepted unskilled workers in those areas, but the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) now argues the country should…
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Japanese hoteliers turn backs on foreign tourists
Japan’s mission to boost the number of overseas visitors suffered a setback this week after hundreds of hoteliers and inn owners said they would turn away foreign guests. Of the 7,068 hotels and inns that responded to a survey by the communications ministry, 62% had received at least one foreign guest last year, while 38%,…
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Japan: No room at inn for foreigners
Most Japanese inns and hotels that didn’t have foreign guests last year don’t want any in the future, according to a government survey released Thursday. While the majority of such establishments do accept foreigners, the survey showed the country’s more traditional inns are not as hospitable, even as the government mounts a major campaign to…