A survey conducted by a prefectural government in central Japan, which asked residents whether the local government should continue hiring foreign nationals as civil servants, has been concluded by an advisory panel to be “discriminatory,” according to a source familiar with the matter on Friday.
The panel, comprising experts and community representatives, reached the conclusion after reviewing the survey’s question content. The panel argued that the phrasing could foster prejudice or stigma against foreign workers and fails to reflect the spirit of promoting diversity and social inclusion.
According to the source, the survey was sent to residents of the prefecture to gauge opinions on the local government’s personnel policies. However, the wording of the question sparked controversy from the time it was released, with many critics saying it placed foreigners in a position of being judged based on nationality rather than actual ability.
Prefectural government officials have yet to issue an official response to the panel’s conclusion. Previously, several other local governments in Japan have faced similar disputes when adjusting employment or residency policies for foreign nationals.
The incident comes as Japan grapples with an aging population and increasingly severe labor shortages, prompting many local governments to consider expanding the hiring of foreign workers. However, barriers related to social awareness and policy remain a difficult challenge in the integration process.
