Japan faces a labour shortage due to its declining population and ageing society.
Last November, the government released data which suggested that Japan's working population would shrink by about 10 million people by 2030, compared to 2006.
At present, under bilateral agreements, only caregivers from the Philippines and Indonesia are required to know Japanese if they want to work in Japan, as they need to work in environments where only Japanese is used.
Some reports concluded that the proposed move could be aimed at making the use of unskilled foreign workers more acceptable as a means of filling the growing labour shortage.
However, Foreign Ministry officials stressed there was no change in the government's policy to restrict the entry of unskilled workers into Japan.
At the same time, the government will continue to issue visas to foreigners applying for jobs that require special qualifications or skills.
KWAN WENG KIN