Japan pays foreign workers to go home

For decades the foundations of Japan's manufacturing industries, Brazilians of Japanese descent are now being offered cash to go home on the understanding that they never attempt to work in the country again.

By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
Telegraph.co.uk, 23 Apr 2009

With the global economic crisis showing few signs of abating and Japan's unemployment spiking to a three-year high of 4.4 per cent, authorities have introduced a plan that provides immigrants with handouts of Y300,000 (£2,120), plus Y200,000 (£1,413) for each dependant, if they leave the country.

The first applicants received their cash from the controversial scheme this month, although critics say the government and companies are merely taking advantage of the weakest members of society. (more)