Japan’s cabinet has approved a plan to address the country’s acute labor shortage by increasing the number of industries that can offer a long-term work visa for skilled foreign workers. Currently, only skilled workers in the construction and shipbuilding sectors can apply for a Class II visa, but the approved plan expands the sector from two to 11 industries, including fishery, agriculture, and hotel, enabling Class I visa holders to apply for long-term residency. To qualify for the upgrade, workers must pass Japanese language and skill examinations. The plan will come into effect by this fall, and according to the Immigration Services Agency, about 150,000 foreign workers in Japan are Class I holders. Japan’s fertility rate has fallen to a record low for the seventh consecutive year, prompting the government to secure annual funding of about 3.5 trillion yen ($25.2 billion) over the next three years for a new childcare package in a bid to address the declining birth rate.