Japan immigration Japan's foreign worker system strains as officials shift quotas

Government eyes 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)

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.