By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukrainians fleeing war in their country will be allowed to work in Japan, the Japanese government said on Tuesday.
“We will flexibly respond to the visa status, sufficiently taking into consideration the situation facing the evacuees,” Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa told a press conference in Tokyo.
At least 47 Ukrainians have arrived in Japan since Russia launched war on its western neighbor on Feb. 24, with Tokyo offering them short-term visas as part of a humanitarian assistance package.
“Under the measure, evacuees who are granted short-term residency for 90 days when entering Japan will be permitted to extend their visas to ‘designated activities’ status for one year,” the minister was quoted as saying in a Kyodo News report.
“The change will give them residency and the legal right to engage in work,” he explained.
Along with Japan’s Western allies, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been leading efforts to halt Russia’s war on Kyiv.
Energy-deficient Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia but taken a cautious approach on banning energy imports from Moscow.
Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s top government spokesperson, told a separate press conference: “The government will cooperate with firms and local governments that have announced their intention to accept the (Ukrainian) evacuees and study measures based on requests of people who want to evacuate to Japan.”
The Russia-Ukraine war has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.
At least 636 civilians have been killed and 1,125 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the UN. It has warned, however, that the true toll is likely much higher as access to areas of increased hostilities remains restricted.
Some 2.8 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, said the UN refugee agency.