Japan Stops Issuing Type I Specified Skilled Worker Visas for Food Service Sector
Introduction
The Japanese government has stopped issuing specific work visas for the food service industry because the number of visa holders is getting too close to the official legal limit.
Main Body
The Immigration Services Agency stopped issuing certificates of eligibility for Type I Specified Skilled Worker visas on April 13. This decision was caused by data showing that there were about 46,000 foreign workers in the food service sector by the end of February. Since the legal limit is 50,000 for the 2028 financial year, the government believes this limit will be reached very soon. In the past, Japan has had very strict immigration rules. However, because the population is decreasing and there are fewer local workers, the country now relies more on labor from overseas. The Type I visa allows workers to stay for a maximum of five years and does not allow them to bring their families, whereas Type II visas allow workers to stay indefinitely and bring their family members. Many companies are now worried about this situation. For example, Skylark Holdings and Mos Food Services emphasized that these restrictions could stop their business growth and make staffing unstable. Furthermore, industry leaders asserted that the suspension might increase competition for current visa holders and make Japan less attractive to international workers. Specifically, Skylark Holdings reported that this measure affects 32 exchange students from Myanmar who were preparing for their exams in June.
Conclusion
The Japanese food service industry is now facing uncertainty regarding its staff because immigration authorities have frozen Type I visas to avoid going over the 2028 quota.
Learning
The 'Logic Bridge': Moving from Simple to Complex Connections
At the A2 level, you usually connect ideas with and, but, or because. To reach B2, you need to use Contrast and Addition markers that make your writing sound professional and fluid.
⚡ The Contrast Shift: Whereas
In the text, we see: "Type I visa allows workers to stay for five years... whereas Type II visas allow workers to stay indefinitely."
Why this is a B2 move: Instead of using two separate sentences or a simple "but," whereas allows you to compare two different things in one single, elegant breath. It acts like a scale, balancing two opposite facts.
- A2 style: Type I is for 5 years. But Type II is forever.
- B2 style: Type I is limited to 5 years, whereas Type II is indefinite.
🚀 The 'Professional' Layer: Furthermore & Specifically
Notice how the author adds information. They don't just say "also." They use words that tell the reader how the next sentence relates to the previous one.
- Furthermore Use this when you want to add a stronger or more important point to your argument. It is the "grown-up" version of also.
- Specifically Use this to zoom in. It tells the reader: "I just gave you a general idea; now I will give you a concrete example."
Example Path:
- (General Point) Furthermore (Adding another point) Specifically (Giving a detailed example).
🛠️ Vocabulary Upgrade: Action Verbs
Stop using "say" for everything. Look at the verbs used to describe the companies' reactions in the article:
- Emphasized: To say something with strong force to show it is important.
- Asserted: To state something confidently as a fact.
If you change "The boss said the rules are bad" to "The boss asserted that the restrictions are harmful," you have instantly moved your English from a basic level to a professional one.