Japan's ruling party consents to job changes by foreign trainees

TOKYO -- Efforts to update Japan's controversial foreign-trainee program took a step forward Monday after a committee of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party accepted the latest government proposal, including up to a two-year wait before workers can change jobs.

The new trainee program aims to foster foreign talent using Japan's expertise while securing workers for the country's short-handed industries. The latest proposal would let trainees work in Japan for three years to gain the necessary skills to qualify for a "specified skilled worker" visa.