Foreign workers stage sit-in to protest immigration law reform

Wednesday 03rd June, 04:40 AM JST

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Yelnats at 03:06 PM JST - 3rd June

I have never reported resigning a new contract each year as I work in the same place. How would they know if I did or if I didn't. I carry my permanent residence card all the time even when going surfing.
Gaijinocchio at 04:23 PM JST - 3rd June

Yep, you just wait for this law to pass (because it probably will). It's a long-term disaster waiting to happen, especially if immigration is wholly unprepared for it's implications and hidden consequences; and even then, only 20 people showed.

These changes are hardly steps into a prosperous future. What was wrong with the old system anyways?
Richard_III at 05:17 PM JST - 3rd June

Given the Japanese mindset, this measure makes sense. It centralises all administration in one place making it easier to control and monitor; it should therefore be cheaper and more efficient. Fines of the magnitude mentioned will ensure compliance making it a trustworthy system. At the moment there is a lot of flexibility in the system (people don't renew their gaijin cards on time etc. which can create bureaucratic headaches as different agencies and authorities interact). The last thing Japanese people like is uncertainty, and the current system has elements of uncertainty.
Blackops at 05:58 PM JST - 3rd June

How does this effect people like me that are on a PR Visa?? Do I need to go through the same BS as people on a Marriage Visa, Working Visa or Business Visa ???
Orchid64 at 07:07 PM JST - 3rd June

Going to the immigration office in Shinagawa is a horrible experience. My husband renewed his visa this year and had to wait 5 hours during each visit - first to apply and then to pick up. Imagine having to go through that every time a detail changed and having to take the time off of work to go on a weekday within two weeks of any change. Also, the office is off in the middle of a bunch of shipping areas and a garbage dump. It takes forever to get there even if you live near central Tokyo. If immigration offices were more numerous and easier to get to or if the pace of processing were faster (fat chance), it'd be different, but I don't see Japan investing to make our lives easier.

If your company moves its office, you have to report it so that your work address details are updated. If you move, it's the same. And if you are sick or have to work and can't make it in 14 days (or God forbid, forget), then there's a huge fine. Making these changes at the local ward office (which after all is where you pay your taxes and handle other things like health insurance just like the Japanese do) is far more convenient and less time-consuming.

This has nothing to do with centralizing paperwork and everything to do with making it harder for foreigners to remain here. Personally, I look forward to the day when Japan's hostile and unfair treatment of foreign residents makes it so inhospitable that no one will want to work here.
Orchid64 at 07:10 PM JST - 3rd June

Yelnats: You don't have to report a renewal of a contract if you work for the same company. You only have to report a visa renewal or changes to your place of residence or employment, so you're good with what you've been doing.
buggerlugs at 07:59 PM JST - 3rd June

I still think the best way to deal with this is arrange for a few thousand people to show up on the same day at the time to Immergration. Then they'll see how stupid this really is. I also want to know why people still don't understand how dangerous ic chips are!! They can be read by basic equipment bought in akihabara and then read from a distance of a metre. Lucky I never use the trains :)
buggerlugs at 07:59 PM JST - 3rd June

I still think the best way to deal with this is arrange for a few thousand people to show up on the same day at the time to Immergration. Then they'll see how stupid this really is. I also want to know why people still don't understand how dangerous ic chips are!! They can be read by basic equipment bought in akihabara and then read from a distance of a metre. Lucky I never use the trains :)
WMD at 07:59 PM JST - 3rd June

At moment I'm waiting on my Japanese passport and this seems to take forever. I sincerely hope I get it before these latest Nazi style measures take effect for the foreigners. Does Japan want foreigners to provide for the japanese old people or not? They certainly try to discourage at every step don't they??
umbrella at 08:18 PM JST - 3rd June

Yes I'm in the same situation as WMD ie I'm going through the naturalization procedures at the moment. And yeah, who's going to pay for the oldies' pensions if all the foreigners leave in disgust?
Starviking at 08:43 PM JST - 3rd June

@Gaijinnoccio

and even then, only 20 people showed.

I'd love to protest - but them I'd have to take time off work. BUT, I can't take time off work - fixed holidays.

Even if I could get - if someone from work saw me there it could easily be bye-bye job - hello 'troublemaker' label.
OneForAll at 09:03 PM JST - 3rd June

I'm not that concerned. I am glad they are allowed to protest peacefully. May not change anything, but it might just help.
PeachFuzz at 10:28 AM JST - 7th June

I just received my renewed 3 year work visa last week, valid until May 2012. Does anyone know if I will have to change my foreign registration card come next April 2010 if the new laws are passed? I wonder if I will be excluded from the changes until the next renewal?

I have to reconsider how many more years I can stay if we are forced to back pay money on kokumin hoken (NHI) or shakai hoken. I`ve been in a company health insurance plan for many years (Interglobal) and the city office said that was permitted when I explained that to them.
realitycheck at 09:16 AM JST - 10th June

The new proposal is not all bad for foreigners. While it will centralize registration which will be a pain in the neck for those who move around a lot, it will also get rid of re-entry permits for those who will not be away for more than a year. So for a person such as myself a PR with a stable address/job, I will essentially never have to go to the immigration office. Also, 3 year visas will be extended to 5 years. Personally the only times I have gone to immigration has been for the re-entry permits and visa renewal/change of status. Under the new proposal I would have gone to immigration a lot fewer times. If you don't change jobs/addresses a lot, you will probably have to go to immigration less.
I agree that some aspects of the plan may negatively impact foreigners (the penalties for non-registration seem a bit draconian), but lets look at the plan as a whole, and not have this knee-jerk "oh there just out to make our lives miserable" attitude. If a few of the proposals were changed, or logistics were changed (online registration / opening more offices / better staffing) the new proposals may actually make our lives easier.
tigerguy at 09:32 PM JST - 2nd August

I like to see what happens with all those cheap eikaiwa oompanies that are not paying shakai hoken and providing legal health insurance for the workers. Just contact your local labor office and report your company.