Economy & Markets
2 min read
Japan's Illegal Worker Crackdown: Vietnamese Nationals Targeted
The Japan Times
January 19, 2026•3 days ago
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Vietnamese workers in Japan, like Minh, who entered under the Technical Intern Training Program, are facing a crackdown on overstayed visas. These workers have contributed to Japan's labor needs for years. The government, under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is intensifying efforts to identify and deport undocumented foreign laborers. This action impacts individuals who have been working in demanding sectors.
For a decade, Vietnamese worker Minh did tough jobs like sandblasting ships and welding steel, helping address rapidly aging Japan’s dire labor needs.
But now, having overstayed his visa, he is in the crosshairs of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s promised crackdown on illegal workers.
Minh, a pseudonym used to protect his identity, came to Japan in 2015 under its Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), which is billed as a way for foreign workers to learn skills to take back to developing countries.
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