Japan’s Gunma Pref. to scrap nationality-based criteria for staff hiring
The Gunma Prefectural Government building is seen in the city of Maebashi in this Feb. 22, 2019 file photo. (Mainichi/Hinako Kikuchi)
MAEBASHI — The Gunma Prefectural Government has decided to fully abolish nationality-based criteria for hiring staff members, starting with exams in fiscal 2023.
Of the 36 job types within departments under the governor’s supervision, foreign nationals have already been eligible for 21, including public health nurse positions, while they are currently not allowed to take tests for the remaining 15, including positions dealing with administrative affairs.
Gov. Ichita Yamamoto revealed the plan to abolish nationality-based criteria in response to a question by prefectural assembly member Isao Yamato during an assembly meeting on Sept. 26. Yamamoto emphasized the goal to secure diversity, saying, “Duties have been growing diverse as of late, and there are more opportunities for foreigners’ active participation.”
As the Japanese government has favored a policy that civil servants involved with the exercise of governmental authority need to have Japanese nationality, the prefecture plans to restrict some operations for hired foreigners, including tasks involving governmental approval and tax payments.
Gunma Prefecture put into effect its local ordinance on promoting a multicultural and inclusive society in April 2021. It had been discussing the move to abolish nationality-based criteria since June that year. As of the end of 2021, 60,749 foreign nationals lived in the prefecture, accounting for 3.1% of its population.
(Japanese original by Takashi Kawachi, Maebashi Bureau)
