TOKYO, April 20 (News On Japan) – Japan’s foreign workforce has grown to about 2 million people, an increase of about 220,000 from the previous year. However, the weak yen means that living conditions have become less favorable, raising fears among Japanese business leaders that Japan could become an unattractive destination for foreign workers.
For tourists who now find Japan more affordable, the weaker yen is a boon. From January to March this year, both the number of visitors to Japan and their spending reached record highs.
For foreign workers, especially technical interns, the fallen value of the yen means their earnings are less sufficient to cover living costs and send money home.
With the yen’s continued depreciation, fears are growing among Japanese business leaders such as Kenji Mukogo, the 76-year-old president of Matsuyama Steel Material, that Japan could become an unattractive destination for foreign workers. โIf foreigners stop coming to Japan or choose other countries, it could be a matter of life and death for us,โ Mukogo said.
Exchange rates are a common topic among interns. An intern from Indonesia said, “One yen is now 104 rupiah, compared to 140 rupiah in the past. I find myself praying, ‘Please God, make the yen a little stronger.'”
Food budgets are tight in the intern dormitory. โI usually use three to four eggs, but now I can only afford one. I can’t even buy meat because it’s too expensive,โ says an intern from Indonesia.
During meals, conversation often turns to countries such as South Korea and Australia, which are now considered more desirable destinations.
Despite the growing number of trainees from Indonesia compared to 2019, the recovery from Vietnam has not yet reached its peak. Nguyen Van Tin, involved in sending interns from Vietnam, said: “I used to receive about 100 interns every year, but this year it was about 80.”
Nguyen added: “The depreciation of the yen and the growing desire to work in Europe are influencing decisions, although moving there is a challenge. Salaries in Europe can be double those in Japan.”
Source: ANN
