News Summary
Editorially reviewed.
- Japan’s Immigration Agency plans to monitor social media to investigate illegal foreign workers and overstayers.
- By 2027, analytical tools and a cyber patrol unit will be established to identify online advertisements related to illegal work.
- Ibaraki Prefecture has announced a 10,000 yen reward for information about businesses employing illegal workers.
Japan’s immigration authorities are preparing to take stringent measures by monitoring social media and other platforms to gather information on foreigners who have overstayed their visas and illegal foreign workers residing in the country.
This initiative comes as part of efforts to reduce the number of overstayers amid Japan’s increasing reliance on foreign labor due to a shortage of workers.
The Immigration Services Agency plans to employ analytical tools and establish a dedicated cyber patrol unit by 2027 to detect online information, including requests and advertisements for illegal work posted in foreign languages.
According to the agency’s data, there were approximately 68,000 illegal residents in Japan as of January, a decline of about 6,000 compared to the previous year.
Focusing on overstayers, the agency also aims to impose strict penalties on employers who hire foreign workers without valid visas.
Meanwhile, the Ibaraki Prefectural Government, located northeast of Tokyo, recently launched a program offering a reward of 10,000 yen (equivalent to about 80 Singapore dollars) to individuals who provide information that leads to legal action against businesses employing undocumented foreign workers.
