Japan, Thailand ink memorandum on new foreign worker program

The new program, which starts in April 2027, is set to replace the existing technical intern system, which has been criticized as a hotbed for abuse of foreign workers accepted as unskilled labor.

The signing of the memorandum, which updates the 2019 document that is tied to the technical intern system, made Thailand Japan's first partner under the new program.

Under the new memorandum, Japan will certify employment plans submitted by participating companies, while Thai authorities will certify recruiting and training agencies that send workers to Japan.

The document also allows Japan to suspend certification of employment plans if the number of workers exceeds the country's sector-by-sector quotas.

As of the end of 2025, 11,672 trainees from Thailand stayed in Japan.

The Japanese government plans to update memorandums with 16 other partner countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia.