Japan is known as a country where people’s longevity is the highest, so a local labour market needs more caregivers – now and in the future. Government plans to accept more caregivers from the neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, The Japan Times said.
Three Southeast Asian countries could contribute their assistance to Japan that is seeking for more caregivers. The number who want to be caregivers in Japan has been increasing. For fiscal 2018 ending next March, there were 298 from Indonesia, 282 from the Philippines and 193 from Vietnam — all record highs.
Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam have free trade agreements (FTAs) with Tokyo to help address the national labour shortage. In fact, Abe’s government is going to allow more of the foreign caregivers with strong proficiency in Japanese to work in Japan starting next April. Under current terms, Japan accepts up to 300 caregivers from each country per year. The government aims to treat those with high language proficiency separately from those groups.
According to Japan’s estimations, in 2025, the country will definitely see a shortage of some 340,000 caregivers, so, it is a wise move to soften the upcoming crisis on the labour market by accepting the caregivers from Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam.
The year 2025 is a year when many baby boomers are expected to be 75 or older and in need of nursing care services. The bilateral FTAs with Japan took effect in fiscal 2008 with Indonesia, in fiscal 2009 with the Philippines and in fiscal 2014 with Vietnam.
Under the deals, about 4,300 people arrived to work in Japan. They are employed as caregivers for three years while studying for a national language examination that must be taken during the four-year period of stay. If they pass, they can continue to work here.
