Japan's government has projected up to 47,000 foreign workers could come to the country in fiscal 2019 under proposed revisions to the immigration law.

Debate began in the Lower House plenary session on Tuesday on a bill to amend the Immigration Control law that would allow the entry of more foreign workers from April of next year.

Government officials said a labor shortfall of more than 600,000 people is expected in fiscal 2019. They said if the bill is passed, about 33,000 to 47,000 workers from other countries could be accepted during the period.

In the 5 years from fiscal 2019, officials have projected a labor shortage of between 1.3 and 1.35 million people and the arrival of about 260,000 to 340,000 foreign workers.

Opposition parties had been demanding that the number of workers accepted under the revised immigration bill be quickly quantified.