Osaka Prefecture has decided to go ahead with a national government program allowing foreign nationals to work as housekeepers as part of a larger push toward greater participation of women in the workforce.

Some industry insiders have been quick to point out, however, that the program¡¯s success hinges on the government¡¯s assistance in priming Japanese households to make use of housekeepers, Japanese or otherwise.

Housework has traditionally been the exclusive domain of the women in a household.