Japan's justice ministry has decided to ease criteria in a points-based preferential immigration system introduced last year to attract highly skilled foreign workers. It has been found that the criteria are far too strict. Only 17 people used the system in its first 11 months of operation.
The preferential system was aimed at academic researchers, engineers and corporate managers.
Points were awarded based on annual income, academic qualifications and employment history, but few people found it possible to log the 70 points needed for the fast-track work visa.
