Lack of Social Security Premiums May Affect Residence Permission

November 10, 2018

Tokyo --The Japanese government will revoke residence permission for foreign workers under two planned visa categories if they fall behind in paying social security contributions, Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita suggested Friday.

"We're considering denying residency for those who are delinquent in paying social security contributions without good reasons," Yamashita told the House of Representatives Committee on Judicial Affairs.

The Justice Ministry will cooperate with the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry to check the status of payments, as well as promote social security enrollment for foreign workers with new visas, he said.

The minister's remarks came amid concerns that the new visa categories that the government aims to introduce next April could lead to an increase in the social security burden of Japanese citizens.

On Oct. 29, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Health, Labor and Welfare Division adopted a resolution demanding that the government strictly check the payment of social security premiums by foreign workers. Jiji Press