One of the consequences of Japan’s aging population, low birth rate and decline in inward migration is the issue on chronic labor shortage. The Japanese government has to deal with this workforce setback for the past year up until the present time. This is especially true in fourteen identified industries that are reported to suffer the works labor-related problems.
Among the above mentioned fourteen sectors are nursing or care giving, agriculture, construction as well as food and service industry. In view of the aging population in the Land of the Rising Sun, there are more and more Japanese senior citizens who are in need of health and medical treatments. As such, elderly care facilities, nurses and care givers are necessary in Japan.
In this regard, the country deems it proper to amend its immigration policies so as to encourage the influx of more and more foreign skilled worker who have considerable knowledge and experience in the fourteen identified sectors specifically in the field of nursing or care giving.
With the introduction of the “Specified Skilled Worker” visa, the Japanese government hopes to attract an increasing number of foreign workers in the country. In order to obtain the said specified skilled worker visa, it is not necessary for the foreign applicant to be a university or college degree holder as long as he or she passes the industry specified skills test to be conducted by the relevant sector and obtain at least an N4 level in the Japanese language proficiency test.
Among the first consideration of the Japanese government in conducting the first batch of industry specific test is the venue. They have decided that the first phase of the exams will be done in Vietnam and the Philippine in the hope o f attracting more foreign nationals in the nursing sector.
Meanwhile, mock tests for the restaurant industry will be held in Japan and in Vietnam. On the other hand, tests for the hotel industry will be conducted in Japan.
Reference: Nursing skill tests for new visa expected to start in Vietnam and Philippines
