Published March 27, 2026, at 17:53 JS
By HISASHI NAITO/ Staff Writer
Japan will suspend accepting new foreign workers for the food service industry starting April 13 as the country is set to hit its quota for the sector well ahead of schedule.
The move announced by the government on March 27 comes as the number of Type 1 Specified Skilled Worker visa holders in the industry reached approximately 46,000 by the end of February, rapidly approaching the cap of 50,000 set through fiscal 2028.
Launched in fiscal 2019 to combat severe domestic labor shortages, the Specified Skilled Worker program accepts non-Japanese nationals with ready-to-work expertise.
Type 1 status allows a residency of up to five years. The more advanced Type 2 category has no residency limit and allows workers to bring their families to Japan.
The government’s intake quotas for each of the 19 fields covered by the Type 1 visa are set on the basis of preventing a negative impact on domestic employment opportunities.
The Immigration Services Agency noted this is the second such suspension, following one in the industrial machinery manufacturing sector in 2022.
The food service industry employs around 4 million workers in total and relies on these visa holders for roughly 1 percent of its workforce, according to the agriculture ministry.
The sector’s labor shortage is particularly acute, with a jobs-to-applicants ratio of 3.2 in fiscal 2024, far exceeding the all-industry average of 1.3.
HIGHER WAGES OR PRICES?
The hiring freeze is expected to intensify the competition for talent.
While this could lead to improved pay and working conditions for existing restaurant employees, it also means increased costs for business owners, potentially forcing them to downsize operations or raise menu prices.
Officials added that the suspension may be lifted if vacancies arise within the quota due to workers returning home, changing jobs or being promoted to Type 2 status.