I handed over policy recommendations to Director-General Murakami of the Allied General Affairs Bureau.

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The scene of the proposal submission

Since September of the year before last, we have established the Citizens' Roundtable on Special Permission to Stay in Japan (chaired by Professor Tetsuo Mizukami of Rikkyo University) as a forum for citizens to broadly discuss the recent situation surrounding special permission to stay in Japan, the application of the "Guidelines for Special Permission to Stay in Japan," and other related matters. We have held study sessions and mini-symposiums to continue these discussions.

The citizens' consultation group has met 13 times so far, and has heard opinions from experts such as Professor Atsushi Kondo of Meijo University. It has also been decided that the citizens' consultation group will create policy recommendations and submit them to the 7th Immigration Control Policy Consultative Council, which is an advisory body to the Minister of Justice.

We have been discussing the draft since November of last year, and on February 19th, the final day of the 7th Policy Consultation Meeting, we handed over the policy recommendations to Yoko Murakami, Director General of the Rengo General Affairs Bureau, who is a member of the Policy Consultation Meeting. On that day, three people from the Citizens' Consultation Meeting visited the Rengo headquarters: Chairman Mizukami, Dr. Junpei Yamamura (Minatomachi Clinic), and Katsuo Yoshinari (APFS Board Member).

Director-General Murakami stated that while the issues of special permission to stay and undocumented foreign residents were not often discussed at policy consultation meetings, he would now pay close attention to the situation following today's request. Mr. Tomoharu Koga, Director of the Labor Law Measures Bureau, also spoke about the role that Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation) played in the creation of the "Guidelines on Special Permission to Stay" by the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice.

The Zaitokukai Citizens' Roundtable has concluded for the time being, having submitted its policy recommendations. A public briefing session is planned for April or later.