申請成為難民急増、目的是「掩飾」打工?

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

難民認定申請が急増、就労目的で「偽装」か

2014年10月18日 03時07分

　日本への難民認定申請の件数が急増している。

　法務省によると、今年１～９月の申請件数は約３６００件で、過去最多だった昨年の３２６０件をすでに突破し、最終的に４０００件を超える見通しだ。２０１０年３月の制度改正で、正規滞在の外国人であれば、審査結果が出るまで合法で働けるようになったことから、実は就労が目的の「偽装」申請が横行しているとみられている。

　制度改正は、審査期間中に経済的に行き詰まる申請者への配慮が目的だった。審査が半年以上に長引いた場合に限り、生活費を自ら稼ぐことを認めた。ただ、申請時点で不法滞在の外国人には適用されない。

　このため、改正後に増えたのは、留学や短期滞在など正規の在留資格を持つ外国人からの申請だ。１０年の６６８件から、１３年は２４０４件と３倍超となった。

　留学ビザで来日した外国人の場合、許可を得て原則１日４時間までのアルバイトが可能だが、難民認定申請して半年たてば職種を問わずフルタイムで就労できる。同省入国管理局には日本語学校などから、「留学生が難民認定申請をして本格的に働き始め、学校に来なくなった」という相談が寄せられているという。

(試譯文)

In Japan the number of applications to become confirmed refugee was increasing rapidly.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of applications for January to September this year was about 3,600, breaking last year’s 3,260 that was so far the highest in record, and it was estimated that it would go beyond 4,000 by year end. Due to a system change in March 2010, it was permissible for a foreigner, who had a lawful stay, to work legally until his application result was known. It was thought that these "disguised" applications, which in fact were for the purpose of starting to work, were rampant.

   The purpose for this system change was to give consideration to claimants who might come to an economic deadlock during the verification period. It was only in those cases that the verification was prolonged into over six months that one would be allowed to earn his own cost of living. However, it was not applicable to foreigners who were staying illegal at the time of application.

   Therefore after the system changes, there was an increase in the application from foreigners who had regular residence based on qualifications such as studying from abroad or for a temporary stay. From 668 cases in 2010 it increased by 3 times to 2,404 cases in 2013.

In case that a foreigner who was permitted to visit Japan using a student visa, a part-time job up to 4 hours a day was permissible in principle. One could apply for refugee confirmation and start working full-time in spite of the job category if the processing time exceeded six months. It was said that the said Ministry’s Immigration Bureau, during the consultation with schools that taught Japanese language, heard that "students from overseas begin to apply for refugee confirmation and then to work in earnest; they do not go to the school any more".

For a country like Japan which is having a population decline, I think to handle 4,000 refugee applications in one year is manageable.