As Japan’s population continues to decline and labor shortages worsen, the number of companies accepting foreign workers is increasing year by year.
A new system for accepting foreign workers, the Employment for Skill Development Program, will begin in April 2027. However, many companies on the ground feel that they do not fully understand the system or are unsure where to start preparing.
In response, Kurashiki City is holding a seminar for businesses in the city.
In this article, the author, who has been involved in the practical work of accepting foreign workers for more than 20 years, explains the purpose and content of the seminar, as well as points to know before attending.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in August 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
FY2026 Foreign Worker Acceptance Seminar
The “FY2026 Foreign Worker Acceptance Seminar,” to be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, is for businesses working to accept and retain foreign workers. Participants can learn about the Employment for Skill Development Program in an accessible way, with an overview of the system and examples of acceptance practices.
It is also an opportunity for participating businesses to exchange information with one another.
Program for the day
The seminar consists of two parts.
- Part 1: Overview of foreign residents in Japan and the Employment for Skill Development Program
Okayama Branch Office, Hiroshima Regional Immigration Services Bureau
Chief Examiner Ryo Nakano - Part 2: Building a workplace that remains a top choice regardless of nationality
International Relations Cooperative Association
Representative Director Takayuki Shimizu
Capacity is 70 people, and participation is free (advance registration required). Questions may also be submitted in advance.
For the day’s schedule and registration details, see the images below.
This seminar is recommended for these businesses
The Foreign Worker Acceptance Seminar is recommended for businesses facing concerns such as the following.
- “I don’t really understand the difference between the Technical Intern Training Program, the Employment for Skill Development Program, and the Specified Skilled Worker Program.”
- “Which system would be best for our company to use?”
- “What kind of workplace environment should we create so that foreign workers can thrive with us for a long time?”
Even businesses with these questions can participate with confidence, thanks to three key features.
- The content is suitable both for businesses already accepting foreign workers and for those considering doing so.
- Participants can exchange business cards and information, helping them build connections with other businesses.
- At the end of the seminar, the speakers will answer questions submitted in advance by participants, helping deepen their understanding of the systems and acceptance practices.
Information to check before attending the seminar
To help you better understand the new Employment for Skill Development Program, the author, who regularly works in the field of accepting foreign workers, introduces information from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan that they use as a reference.
It provides an easy-to-understand summary of the three systems: Technical Intern Training, Employment for Skill Development, and Specified Skilled Worker.
- Technical Intern Training Program (new admissions end in April 2027; transitional measures apply to trainees already residing in Japan)
- Employment for Skill Development Program (to be implemented from April 2027)
- Specified Skilled Worker Program (currently in effect)
For those who want to learn more, the Ministry of Justice’s Immigration Services Agency also recommends its “Employment for Skill Development Program Q&A.” Reading it in advance will make the seminar content easier to understand.
These materials are also useful when checking details about the systems or consulting a specialist, such as an administrative scrivener. Save this page for future reference and be sure to bookmark it.
Interview with the organizers
We spoke with Miwa Hirata and Eri Kanada of Kurashiki City’s Labor and Employment Policy Division about the thinking behind the Foreign Worker Acceptance Seminar and the key points they want to convey to businesses.
Could you tell us what led you to plan the Foreign Worker Acceptance Seminar?
Hirata (titles omitted)
As the birthrate declines and the population ages across Japan, Kurashiki City is no exception.
For businesses facing the major challenge of labor shortages, foreign workers have become an important presence supporting the local economy and business growth.
With the Employment for Skill Development Program, which will replace the Technical Intern Training Program, starting in April 2027, businesses will need to deepen their understanding of the new system and prepare their acceptance frameworks.
That is why Kurashiki City planned this seminar as an opportunity for businesses to correctly understand the system and its changes before it begins, and to learn about “creating workplaces where foreign workers choose to work and want to stay for the long term.”
In recent years, more businesses have been hiring foreign workers. What kinds of inquiries are you receiving from businesses in the city?
Kanada (titles omitted)
At present, the city does not receive many individual inquiries about accepting foreign workers. However, through interviews and opinion-exchange meetings with businesses that employ foreign workers, Kurashiki City has identified several common challenges.
These include improving Japanese-language skills, addressing differences in lifestyles and cultures, creating a workplace where people can continue working with peace of mind, and promoting exchange with the local community and Japanese people. These are important issues to address so that foreign workers can work with confidence in a new environment and build their careers.
Businesses have told us that they would like the government to support them in addressing these challenges.
What is the most important thing you want businesses to take away from this seminar?
Hirata
The most important thing we want to convey this time is the importance of deepening understanding of the Employment for Skill Development Program.
As discussed in Part 2, creating a system that makes a workplace a continued choice for people, regardless of nationality, ultimately leads to business growth and stable employment.
To that end, we want businesses to understand the new system and the importance of “creating an environment that makes them a workplace of choice.”
Why did you choose the Employment for Skill Development Program as the seminar’s theme?
Hirata
There are various options for systems to accept foreign workers. “Which system should we use?” is an important decision that also affects a company’s business strategy.
For that reason, we first wanted businesses to correctly understand the changes in the new system. We chose this theme in the hope that it would help businesses decide which system best suits them—whether to accept workers under the Specified Skilled Worker Program or use the Employment for Skill Development Program.
We have also carefully considered the timing of the seminar.
To make use of the Employment for Skill Development Program, which starts in April 2027, we want businesses to prepare thoroughly now and aim to build a higher-quality acceptance framework, rather than rushing just before the system begins.
For this reason, after coordinating the speakers’ schedules, we decided to hold the seminar on August 26, 2026.
What kinds of businesses would you like to attend?
Kanada
We would very much like businesses already working to accept foreign workers to attend, as well as those considering “hiring foreign workers” for the first time.
We also hope that a wide range of people will attend—not only human resources and labor staff, but also workplace managers and employees who work alongside foreign workers.
Do you have a message for businesses considering attending?
Hirata
For businesses accepting foreign workers for the first time, the process may feel daunting and raise concerns. However, the speakers in Parts 1 and 2 each have extensive experience in their respective fields and will explain the content and real-world examples in an accessible way.
To help move forward with accepting foreign workers, please feel free to join us as a first step in gathering information.
From the Writer
As a Kurashiki City resident and someone involved in accepting foreign workers, I spoke with staff from Kurashiki City’s Labor and Employment Policy Division.
What stood out to me in the interview was their commitment to listening to businesses that accept foreign workers and addressing each challenge as they work to create a region that is comfortable to live and work in.
I also learned that they had carefully considered not only the seminar content but also its timing, holding it at a point when businesses can readily prepare for the start of the Employment for Skill Development Program.
I believe this seminar will offer many useful insights not only to businesses already accepting foreign workers, but also to those considering doing so.
Please join us for an opportunity to address any concerns or questions you may have about accepting foreign workers.
FY2026 Foreign Worker Acceptance Seminar details
| Name | FY2026 Foreign Worker Acceptance Seminar |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, August 26, 2026 1:30 p.m.–3:45 p.m. *Registration: 1:00–1:30 p.m. |
| Location | Kurashiki City Office Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Center, 1st-floor meeting room |
| Participation fee (tax included) | ・Free participation ・Advance registration required |
| Website | FY2026 Foreign Worker Acceptance Seminar |
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