Japan’s Diet votes yes to more foreign care workers

Legislation passed Friday opens more doors for foreign-born nursing care professionals to work in Japan, a move taken to address a labor shortage. The measures, approved by the upper house across party lines, take effect next year. Nursing care will join the list of occupations qualifying for long-term residency. The new residency status will apply to foreigners certified as care workers in Japan. Reproduction/Nikkei   The Technical Intern Training Program was also altered. Participants, including aspiring nursing care workers, can train with companies or other groups for as long as five years, up from three. A new watchdog will oversee the organizations to ensure that trainees are not overworked or otherwise taken advantage of. The government will create a system under which a foreigner can work in Japan under nursing care residency status by obtaining state accreditation during the training period. Japan has until now accepted foreign nursing care professionals...