Japan’s Immigration Services Agency is set to enhance coordination with several government ministries to address the issue of illegal foreign labor, officials announced. Beginning in October, agency personnel will join inspectors from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) during patrols of demolition and construction sites overseen by the ministry. This move aims to improve onsite assessments of unauthorized employment and facilitate prompt enforcement actions.

The agency intends to leverage these joint patrols to better understand workplace conditions linked to illegal labor and provide administrative guidance when necessary. Additionally, plans are underway to collaborate with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to tackle illegal employment across a broader range of sectors.

Data cited by the Immigration Services Agency indicates that more than 70% of foreign nationals subjected to deportation procedures last year were found to have engaged in unauthorized work. Reflecting the urgency of the issue, the Justice Ministry announced a “Zero Illegal Immigrants” initiative in May, reinforcing governmental efforts to crack down on employers and intermediaries facilitating illegal labor.

Currently, MLIT conducts routine inspections of demolition and construction sites in conjunction with local municipalities. However, local officials do not possess the legal authority to verify the identities of foreign workers suspected of unauthorized employment. Under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, foreign residents are legally required to carry residence cards at all times, and immigration officers have the authority to request their presentation. By embedding immigration officials in these patrols, authorities aim to execute more immediate and effective enforcement actions against illegal workers.

Cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment will focus on outdoor storage facilities for waste plastics and scrap metals, which have raised concerns as potential hubs for illegal labor activities. The Immigration Services Agency plans to conduct joint inspections in coordination with municipalities that have enacted related local ordinances.

Agriculture is also a key sector where illegal foreign labor is prevalent, particularly during intensive planting and harvesting periods. To address this, the agency intends to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to increase awareness and deter unauthorized employment in farming communities.

Through these expanded inter-ministerial efforts, Japanese authorities aim to tighten compliance with immigration and labor regulations and reduce the incidence of illegal foreign employment across multiple industries.