Key facts
- Japan suspended new visa applications for foreign restaurant workers under the "specified skilled worker" program.
- The food service sector was approaching its quota of 50,000 workers.
- Job postings for existing foreign workers in the sector have doubled.
- Companies are increasing pay and exploring visa changes for foreign staff.
- The Japan Foodservice Association plans to request a higher worker cap.
Japanese restaurants are facing intensified competition for foreign labor following the government's suspension of new visa applications under the "specified skilled worker" program. The food service sector, which has relied heavily on these workers to fill staffing gaps, saw job postings for existing foreign employees double in the two months since the application freeze began in April. Companies like ramen chain operator Ings have responded by raising starting pay and exploring alternative visa options for staff, while others, such as Skylark Holdings, are considering reclassifying employees to different visa types. The "specified skilled worker" system, introduced in 2019, aims to accept foreign nationals in sectors facing labor shortages, with a cap of 50,000 workers for the food service industry by March 2029. However, the rapid increase in foreign workers, particularly post-pandemic, led to the sector approaching this limit, prompting the temporary suspension of new applications. Industry groups, like the Japan Foodservice Association, are concerned about the impact on new store openings and operating hours, and plan to request an increase in the worker quota.