TOKYO, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- New government controls on foreign residents have been proposed to a key government panel, a report in The Japan Times said Wednesday.
Under the proposed regulations rolled out by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, foreign residents would be required to report any changes in employment status and employment addresses to the government, which would share the information with municipal authorities.
The government said the regulation would facilitate access to local schools, language instruction, social and information services.
The report by the Kyodo news agency said the government was also considering making skill in the Japanese language as a factor in renewing residency visas.
About 2 million foreigners reside in Japan.
Shiozaki presented the proposal to the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, a panel headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
