63% of Japanese Favor Allowing Immigration of Unskilled Foreign Laborers

Interesting news from Mainichi:

In a nationwide telephone poll conducted by the Mainichi, 63 percent of respondents agreed with accepting foreign entry-level workers. Another 31 percent were against the idea, citing reasons such as that it would have a negative effect on Japanese employment or public peace.

A special employment plan approved by the Cabinet in June 1988 agreed to actively accept specialist and skilled foreign workers, but to take a “cautious” approach with regard to entry-level workers, and as a result, foreign unskilled laborers are generally refused entry to Japan.

When questioned about the government’s policy, 58 percent of respondents in the survey agreed with accepting unskilled foreign workers in fields where there was a lack of workers. Five percent said entry-level foreign workers should be accepted unconditionally.

[Hat tip to Inejiro]

http://whatjapanthinks.com Ken Y-N

Wow, that’s surprisingly high, especially when you compare it with 55% who blame the recent decline in public order on foreigners.

http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/02/19/japan-going-to-the-dogs-gaijin-hanzai-foreigner-crime-blamed-part-1-of-2/

I decided to look up some UK figures:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/TABLESv3.pdf

See Q4, third question, without immigration the UK’s economy would suffer; 46% agree, 49% disagree. So are British more anti-immigration? I’ll have to blog about this tonight! If anyone can find similar figures from their country, please post.
http://randomurl.com LondonGaijin

The only reason 49% disagree is because anyone here is capable of doing the work, but we aren’t prepared to work for the low money. These immigrants can afford to work for such poor wages because they (usually) live illegally with 5-10 other immigrants, so its easy to pay rent.

That’s something that the government would never mention. Nor is it something they want to go into because it serves them well.
http://www.japannewbie.com Harvey

Not my country, but Switzerland has been in the news a lot recently for being incredibly xenophobic.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/08/AR2007100801464.html
“The theme is dominating the campaign for national parliamentary elections Oct. 21 and is crystallized in a controversial campaign poster showing three white sheep kicking a black sheep off a Swiss flag above the slogan, “For more security.”

!!! Could be worse! Goodness…

Kevin

In a strange way I find the kind of xenophobia in Japan much more insidious. Switzerland’s case is terrible, there’s no doubting that, but when it’s out in the open and blatant then it’s much more open for criticism, especially from the international community.
What happens in Japan lives just below the surface. It’s there, it’s not there. I think it’s very telling that most comments concerning discrimination in Japan always have that disclaimer stating- “After you’ve lived here for a while, you’ll start to notice it.”
In my case, living in Japan has been one of the best experiences of my life, but it’s always a little disheartening when you experience ignorance in the least expected places.

ponta

“I find the kind of xenophobia in Japan much more
insidious.”

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morningstar

How about giving the homeless people in Japan the oppertunity to find jobs first. I don’t understand why give a job to a foreigner who don’t understand the language nore understand customes. That also same for all other counties. Take care your own people first.

http://www.victorymanual.com Alex

Because, “Japanese homeless people are homeless by choice.” That’s essentially the mindset of local governments, and it has spilled over into the beliefs of the citizens, for the most part.

63% of Japanese Favor Allowing Immigration of Unskilled Foreign Laborers

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