Japan's labour force has been declining since 1993. The country still has no immigration policy.
It allows foreigners to enter sectors of the economy where labour shortages are greatest. Japan is also less attractive to them because of the weak yen. Many low-skilled workers are in Japan under a so-called "technical training" program. These people are often exploited or abused by unscrupulous companies. The government is seeking to abolish this controversial program. It has unveiled plans to increase the number of areas in which category 2 holders can work to eleven.