Government seeks continued hiring in nursing care, food service without lifting cap
Women from Myanmar prepare food at a nursing care facility in Japan. The Japanese government seeks to resume admissions for such activities by changing their classification under the specified skilled worker program. (Photo by Eugene Lang)
EUGENE LANG
October 13, 2026 05:02 JST
TOKYO -- Japan plans to change some classifications under its "specified skilled worker" program, which lets foreign nationals come to the country and work in industries facing labor shortages, looking to continue hiring in certain sectors without raising the overall entrance cap.