Japan's government has approved a bill that will replace the existing system for foreign technical internees with a new on-the-job training program.

The Cabinet endorsed the bill to revise the immigration control law on Friday. The government will seek its enactment during the ongoing Diet session.

The new program aims to train foreign interns to eventually reach the level of "specified skilled worker No.1 category."

Interns will be accepted in the same sectors covered by the specified skilled worker program, including nursing care, construction and agriculture.

Foreign trainees would be allowed to switch employers within the same sector if they demonstrate a certain level of skills and proficiency in Japanese.

Each sector will be able to set a period of between one and two years for trainees to stay with the initial employer.

The government believes the new program will lead to an increase in the number of foreign workers who acquire permanent resident status.

It plans to revoke permanent residency in cases of intentional or repeated failure to pay tax or if they engage in other unlawful activities.

The government decided to abolish the existing technical intern system following reports of worker abuse. Job transfers are largely restricted under its regulations.

The system was created to allow individuals, mainly from developing countries, to acquire skills.

But critics have pointed out that it has been exploited to address labor shortages in sectors that involve tough jobs.