## (4) Trends of Foreign Workers in Agriculture

• The number of foreigners working in Japan has been increasing and reached about 610 thousand in 2005.

• The foreigners who acquire technologies, skills and knowledge under the Training and Technical Internship Programs, which have the purpose of development of human resources in developing countries, are allowed to receive two year’s technical internship, as long as they complete the initial one year training course and satisfy the specified conditions.

• The number of new foreign trainees is increasing, and about 83 thousand foreigners came to Japan to receive technical training in 2005.

• In 2005, the number of foreign trainees in agriculture increased rapidly to about 6,600. This figure is 1.9 times as large as that obtained in 2001. The number of foreign technical interns is also increasing. Although trainees and technical interns are not to be accepted as basic labor, they are liable to be expected as labor force, against the purpose of the Programs.

• An improvement of the system for accepting the foreign trainees based on the actual state of agriculture, an understanding and an appropriate management of the Program on the side of the accepting organizations are of prime importance.

Number of Foreign Workers (2005)

Foreigners (persons)
Foreigners who visited Japan for work (Professional or technical fields)	About 180 thousand
Foreigners of Japanese descent, spouse or child of Japanese National, etc.	About 240 thousand
Part-timers (engage in an activity other than those permitted)	About 100 thousand
Technical Interns, working holiday travelers, etc. (Designated activities)	About 85 thousand
Total	About 610 thousand

(Reference) Illegal overstayers: about 190 thousand

Source: Prepared by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare according to Immigration Bureau Statistics (the Ministry of Justice).

## Framework of the Training and Technical Internship Programs for foreigners

Entrance	Change of status of residence	Returning home
Off-the-job training	On-the-job training	Technical internship training under the employment relationship
Training	Less than one year	Technical internship training
Less than one year	Three years (maximum training period)

Prepared by MAFF according to the “Document for the Study Meeting for the Training and Technical Internship Programs” (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, October 2006)

Notes: 1) The status of residence, which is “trainee” at the time of entrance, is changed to “designated activities” after completion of the necessary procedures.

2) Foreigners who are allowed to receive the technical internship program are limited to those who satisfy the specified conditions. It must be proved that trainees have acquired a certain level (or above) with regard to technologies, skills and knowledge. The technical training plans and the training and living conditions during their stay are also evaluated.

3) Because foreigners who have the status of residence “trainee” are not allowed to participate in certain activities and receive rewards, they cannot be classified as workers.

Transition of the Numbers of Trainees in the Agriculture and Food Processing Fields

(Unit: persons)

2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Trainees in the agricultural field	3,516	4,645	4,280	5,980	6,606
Trainees who applied for transition to technical interns	510	849	1,155	1,837	2,758
Trainees in the food processing field	4,963	7,060	6,611	8,322	10,048
Trainees who applied for transition to technical interns	2,202	2,596	3,134	4,158	4,844

Source: Investigated by MAFF and Japan International Training Cooperation Organization

Note: Trainees include those who are not engaged in On-the-job training.