NPR

Facing Critical Labor Shortage, Japan Opens Door Wider To Foreign Workers

An aging population and low birth rate have led lawmakers to accept semi-skilled non-Japanese temporary laborers.
In front of Japan's parliament on Friday, people stage a rally against the bill to allow more foreign workers into the country.

Japanese lawmakers have passed controversial legislation expanding the number of semi-skilled foreign workers who can live and work in the notably insular nation for up to five years.

Japan has been pressed to make the change because of a critical labor shortage that results from its rapidly aging society and low birth rate.

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