Plan to hire more foreign workers in special zones

The Japanese government plans to allow more foreigners with specific skills to work in Japan as part of its special economic zone project. A government panel on the national special strategic zones met on Tuesday. The government aims to promote deregulation in these areas. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Finance Minister Taro Aso and Local Revitalization Minister Kozo Yamamoto attended the meeting. Yamamoto said hotels and restaurants need more foreign workers with specialized skills to cope with the growing number of international visitors. He said foreign specialists are also in high demand in Japanese anime and fashion. Yamamoto proposed a system to make it easier for workers to gain residential status. He said the special economic zones should set up committees to screen the business plans of companies that hope to hire people from other countries. The panel approved Yamamoto’s proposal. Abe asked his ministers to create bills based on the plan....