The number of international student and technical interns who have fallen off the radar has been increasing. In Kyushu, the figure is currently thought to be over 480. One of the main reasons for this trend has been the rise in international students taking advantage of the system for seeking asylum by applying for refugee status despite not needing it and then working without restriction. The Immigration Bureau is working on ways to respond to the issue of fake refugees.
One individual who was interviewed noted how much easier life became after applying for refugee status. The Nepalese man in question came to Japan as an international student, but under the conditions of his visa could work no more than 28 hours a week. His monthly salary, which was around ¥100,000, was not enough to cover living expenses and school fees. But since submitting an application to gain refugee status, he has started working 50 hours a week, doubling his income in the process. This man aims to work in Japan for another five or six years so that he can earn enough money to start a business back in his home country. Similar examples have been coming to light in Fukuoka. A lecturer at a language school within the prefecture has spoken of five international students who suddenly stopped attending classes and left their apartments to work in the Kanto region after having applied for refugee status.
At present, international students can work no more than 28 hours a week, while interns can work up to three years, but cannot change jobs. In contrast, individuals seeking asylum can work full-time after half a year and are able to choose their location of employment. Applications are processed within six months to a year, but there is no restriction on the number of times that a decision can be appealed. Reviewing a case multiple times can take several years and if an individual finds a job during the appeal process, they are eligible to apply for a work visa.
Applicants who are clearly not refugees, yet re-applied multiple times have been refused residency. Nonetheless, by the end of September 2016 the number of people seeking refugee status had reached a record high of 7,926. The Immigration Bureau is concerned that this situation might negatively impact the people who are really in need of asylum.
A chairperson of an NPO, which helps support refugees, has said that one of the major problems underpinning the issue is that the measures for bringing in workers from overseas are inadequate. The chairperson has also highlighted that applicants seeking refugee status are working in jobs that are not appealing to Japanese people and help support society. The ageing population, decreasing birthrate, and struggling economy has meant that it is important to explore the issue of people entering the country from overseas.
Original article from Nishinippon Shimbun (12/30/2016).
New Era of Immigration in Kyushu
The number of workers from abroad, including international students and technical interns in Japan, exceeded one million for the first time last year. This group of people form an indispensable component of the workforce, irrespective of the government’s position on immigration. Read more installments from this series here.
