Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

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In force 31 Jan 2025
In force Labour

Foreign worker count surpasses 2.3 million for first time

MHLW statistics published January 2025 reported that foreign workers in Japan had surpassed 2.3 million as of October 2024 — the largest single-year jump on record (~12% YoY). Vietnamese, Filipino, and Indonesian workers led the increase, concentrated in SSW and Engineer/Specialist categories.

Who it affects: Broader labour-market context — signals continued integration of non-Japanese workers across sectors.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗ · Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Oct 2024
In force Labour

National weighted-average minimum wage raised to ¥1,055/hour for FY2024

The Central Minimum Wage Council's recommendation of a ¥50/hour rise — the largest single annual increase ever — was adopted, taking the national weighted-average minimum wage to ¥1,055/hour from October 2024. Tokyo: ¥1,163/hour. Continues a multi-year trajectory toward a ¥1,500/hour 2030s target.

Who it affects: All low-wage workers; SSW workers in particular as their thresholds are pegged to local minimum wages.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗ · Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Labour

SSW intake target raised to 820,000 over five years

The Cabinet approved a five-year SSW intake target of 820,000 workers (2024–2028), more than double the original 2019–2023 target. Reflects continued severe labour shortages in care work, construction, and hospitality alongside Japan's aging-population trajectory.

Who it affects: Labour-shortage-sector employers and prospective SSW workers from key origin countries (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines).

Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗ · verified 2026-04-19