Concerning revisions in the foreign trainee and technical intern system

The objective of the foreign trainee and technical intern system is to cultivate personnel who will come from their native countries to Japan in order to learn about Japanese technology and acquire skills and knowledge, and then contribute to their country’s economic development after returning home by utilizing what they have learned. Under this system, such personnel were permitted to remain in Japan for a maximum of three years; labor legislation was not applied to the trainees, but was enforced in relation to technical interns from their second year onwards. However, various problems have been pointed out in regard to this system. The changes instituted as a result of the 2009 amendment of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act were: (1) the creation of a ‘technical intern training’ residence status and the application of labor law to trainees; (2) the prohibition of the unreasonable levying of money or goods through security deposits or penalties; (3) provisions regarding the duration of training courses; (4) the strengthening of the system of guidance, supervision and support by supervisory bodies, and increased transparency in its operation; and (5) the extension of the acceptance suspension period in the event of any misconduct, and the establishment of new disqualification requirements. In the future, it will be necessary to examine the effects of these revisions in the foreign trainee and technical intern system.