Ibaraki Prefecture’s Plan On Giving Rewards For Reporting Illegal Foreign Workers To Take Effect On May 11

Even though controversy hounded it, the approved plan of Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan on rewarding those who report businesses hiring illegal foreign works will take effect on May 11, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Ibaraki Prefecture (population of around 2.9 million) is located northeast of Tokyo and it already has a high number of illegal foreign workers.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…

A controversial plan to reward people who report businesses hiring illegal foreign workers will take effect May 11 in a prefecture northeast of Tokyo, the local government said Wednesday.

Ibaraki Prefecture, which, as of 2024, had the highest number of illegal foreign workers among the country’s 47 prefectures, will report such employers to police after verifying the information. It will offer 10,000 yen ($63) if a tip leads to a case being opened.

Reports will be limited to businesses hiring foreign workers unlawfully, and the prefecture plans to issue guidelines, including not basing reports solely on individuals’ appearance or nationality.

Reports can be filed through the prefectural website by providing personal information such as name, address and phone number, and must include a copy of identification, such as a driver’s license, the prefecture said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think more local government units and prefectures in Japan should follow Ibaraki Prefecture’s policy on dealing with illegal foreign workers found being hired by businesses? Do you think such a policy will improve Japan’s way of removing illegal foreign workers and cleaning up the private sector from such people? Is Ibaraki Prefecture’s 10,000 Yen reward good enough? Do you think Ibaraki Prefecture should come up a new policy to punish foreigners who cause public disturbances?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

New Visas For Foreign Restaurant Workers Suspended By Japanese Government

Foreigners who planned to work in Japan’s restaurant sector will have to wait further or search for other new opportunities as the government of Japan officially suspended visas for foreign restaurant workers, according to a news report by Kyodo News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…

The Japanese government is no longer issuing visas for foreign specified skilled workers in the restaurant sector as the quota of 50,000 has nearly been reached — the first restriction of its kind since the current limit was set.

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan suspended issuing certificates of eligibility for Type I Specified Skilled Worker visa applications received from Monday. The agency said that, according to preliminary data, the number of foreigners with Type I status working in the food service industry reached roughly 46,000 by the end of February.

It said that for applications received before Monday, certificates will be issued in order up to the quota limit.

In January 2026, the government decided to accept up to 805,700 individuals, expanded to 19 sectors, under the specified skilled worker program through March 2029, with the caps decided based on the degree of labor shortage in the respective fields.

“The food service industry was quicker to employ foreign skilled workers than in other sectors,” said an official at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

“However, there is room for debate as to whether efforts to secure domestic talent, a prerequisite of the system, are being carried out to the fullest extent,” said the official.

The Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act stipulates that the issuance of certificates of eligibility will be suspended if the number of foreign specified skilled workers is expected to exceed the quota.

The agency also said that, from Monday, requests from foreign skilled workers to switch to jobs in the food service industry are not being accepted in principle.

But technical interns who are already working in Japan and transitioning to a specified skilled worker visa in the sector will be given priority in the screening process, it said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the suspension of visas for foreign restaurant workers will not be harmful to the Japanese restaurant owners/operators? Do you think labor shortage in Japan’s restaurant sector is bound to happen sooner than later?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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We don’t take for granted the labor of tree crews who clear roads and roadsides. On yesterday’s ride, we came upon a large tree downed along the edge of this Monterey County road. Workers’ labor today made significant progress; it is now transformed to small logs.

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Work promotes confidence [between 1936 and 1941]
1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color. | Poster for Works Progress Administration encouraging laborers to gain confidence from their work, showing stylized man holding hammer.

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The pipe-bowl mender, Chinatown, San Francisco between 1896 and 1906.
Genthe, Arnold, 1869-1942
1 negative : nitrate ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller.

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The shoe maker, Chinatown, San Francisco between 1896 and 1906.
Genthe, Arnold, 1869-1942
1 negative : safety ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.

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The shoe maker, Chinatown, San Francisco between 1896 and 1906.
Genthe, Arnold, 1869-1942
1 transparency : safety ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.

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Rural industries Rural Electrification Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture / [193-]
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