Overview
- The draft proposes accepting up to about 1.23 million foreign workers by the end of fiscal 2028 across revamped programs presented to an expert panel on Tuesday.
- Under the new Employment for Skill Development program launching in fiscal 2027, intake would be capped at roughly 426,000 in the first two years.
- Acceptances under the Specified Skilled Worker framework would total about 805,000 through March 2029, a slight reduction from the earlier 820,000 plan citing expected productivity gains from digital and AI tools.
- The proposal replaces the criticized Technical Intern Training Program, allows limited job changes within the same sector, and encourages trainees to transition to Specified Skilled Worker status after about three years; SSW has two visa tiers with different stay rules.
- Sector-by-sector upper limits are set—including 319,200 in manufacturing, 199,500 in construction, 194,900 in food and beverage manufacturing, and 167,000 in nursing care—with admissions suspended once caps are reached; the planned cap applies in principle to SSW Type I.