Japan’s cautious transition to a country of immigration and possible opportunities for Türkiye

Authors : Kıvılcım Erkan

Pages : 272-288

Doi:10.30783/nevsosbilen.1550925

View : 36 | Download : 45

Publication Date : 2024-12-20

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Previously a country closed to the so-called low-skilled foreign workers, Japan introduced new programs aimed at increasing the their intake and permanent settlement in an incremental way. Although few studies address these initiatives, the question of why Japan has adopted a convoluted way to the permanent settlement of low-skilled workers has not been illuminated so far. The objective of this paper is to examine the main characteristics of the emerging immigration policy in Japan and the underlying reasons thereof. The paper applied documentary analysis by utilizing publicly available official documents, and secondary literature on the topic. The main findings of the study are that Japan has developed a skills-based perspective which ties expansion of rights and permanent residency to the development of occupational skills. The new immigration policy has resulted from the economic needs of the country, the desire to protect its national image and reputation, and the influence of a negative public perception on the so-called low-skilled/unskilled foreign workers. The final section discusses the possible opportunities that Japan’s new immigration policy can bring for Turkey.
Keywords : Göç, Japonya, Düşük vasıflı işçiler, Türkiye