The Japanese government is set to bar private job agencies from involvement in the job transfer process for foreign workers under the training and employment program that will replace the Technical Intern Training Program, reports The Mainichi. The move aims to eliminate extortionate job brokers. The government will also tighten the Japanese language proficiency requirements for those transferring jobs for personal reasons. Under the technical intern program, whose aim is to help interns acquire skills and technology, participants had not been permitted to change workplaces for three years in principle, but under the new system, which has a clear aim of securing human resources, the restriction period will be relaxed to one-to-two years.

Job transfers are already permitted for those with the specified skilled worker status designed for workers who can immediately be effective in the workplace. About 40% of the foreign workers who switch from the technical intern program to the specified skilled worker status move across prefectural boundaries within one month of their transfers. However, concerns had been raised by industry groups and others about the existence of so-called malicious brokers who induce transfers and charge high fees.

For the time being, the government is set to bar private employment agencies from procedures such as introducing transfer destinations to workers. Transfer procedures will be handled mainly by non-profit supervisory organizations responsible for the process of accepting foreign workers, in collaboration with public employment security offices and the Organisation for Technical Intern Training, which will screen whether the technical training is appropriate.