 |
| Annual Report |
|
Annual
Report 2006 |
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2005
|
Project sponsored
by the Japan Keirin Association |
Following is the summary of captioned Research Committee
Report. |
| The ratio of foreigner population in the Japanese society
is gradually yet steadily increasing for years. Since the revision
of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in 1990,
the number of foreign laborers entering into Japan has increased
dramatically especially among Japanese descendants in foreign
countries. In addition, the Government of Japan set a policy
to promote the acceptance of foreign laborers with high skills
and expertise. In the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
entered with the Government of Philippines, the Government
of Japan has agreed to set options for nurses and nursing care
attendants from Philippines to work in Japan as a part of measures
for the aging society. With these policies and measures, the
number of foreigners and their ratio in the Japanese society
will likely increase further in the future. The enhanced opportunities to experience contacts with different cultures will likely invigorate the social dynamics of the Japanese society, while, unfortunately, building concerns on their negative impacts, such as the rising frictions and social disorder seen in the European society these days. Already some social issues, which involve not only foreign laborers themselves but also their families and children, are becoming apparent in some regions with concentrated foreign laborer population. Various organizations have made the studies of such issues with their conclusions always indicating the drawbacks of delaying the legal system introduction and not promoting the development of favorable social environment for accepting foreign laborers. Various discussion forums also recommended some solutions and measures to improve the situation. Still no real actions have been taken to solve these issues, with the result rather exacerbating the situation further. If Japan wants to build a fair and vibrant socio-economic system, there is no time left to overcome and improve these problems. Immediate and more concrete measures are wanted. In realization of such crisis, our Research Institute has established the Research Committee to Consider the Multi-cultural Symbiotic Society” since fiscal 2004. Inviting experts of relevant fields, the Committee had extensive discussions during the past two years mainly based on the reports of various case studies and researches on foreign laborers and reviews on how to proceed with the actual development of a legislative system and social environment needed to accept foreigners in the Japanese society. This report is consisted of “a Proposal for the acceptance of foreigners in Japan” reviewed and prepared by the Research Committee, more detailed report papers, and the survey and report on the actual situation of minority societies in the UK, which identifies the typical issues of immigrants’ society. In addition, the report contains various data describing the actual situation of foreign laborers in Japan obtained through the government survey. The problem of foreign laborers is not a simple labor issue of the industry sector but a rather comprehensive and complex issue embracing social and cultural aspects. We hope that the Report will provide useful suggestions to all those interested in this issue. |
(From the “introduction” of the Report) |
Summary of the Report |
Outline: Considering the multi-cultural symbiotic society |
Since late 1980’s, the Japanese society has accelerated
the acceptance of foreign laborers mainly among the Japanese
descendants from Latin America. The trend is still continuing
but the development of a legislative system and social environment
needed for foreign laborer acceptance is significantly lagged
behind. |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |