DOLE: Pinoys could get up to 100,000 new jobs in Japan

The Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, Japan

Filipino and Japanese officials will sign a labor agreement tomorrow (March 19) in Tokyo for the smooth deployment of Filipino workers to Japan.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Japan will open 350,000 jobs to foreign nationals next month and a big chunk of it may be cornered by overseas Filipino workers.

“Our workers may get at least 30 percent of available jobs to foreign nationals,” Bello said in a statement.

He said a Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed tomorrow between the Department of Labor and Employment and Japan’s Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Health, Labor and Welfare, and the National Police Agency.

“This agreement, aside from providing better opportunities, is geared toward ensuring their protection by means of implementing a basic framework that will promote smooth and proper mechanisms in sending, accepting, and residence management of incoming specified skilled workers in Japan,” Bello said.

Under the agreement, specified skilled workers are those who possess certain expertise and skills and shall be granted the status of residence of “Specified Skilled Worker” by the government of Japan.

Among the specified skills are those in health care, building maintenance, food services, industrial machinery, electronics, food manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, construction, shipbuilding, fisheries and aquaculture, parts and tooling, and aviation.

The bilateral pact provides that the shared areas for cooperation are streamlining of recruitment processes; examining mechanisms on accepting and supporting organizations and a specified skilled worker; providing guidance and supervision in the implementation of the system; sharing of information; establishing of a joint committee for resolution of issues and continued improvement of the system; administering examinations; and promoting the welfare and protection of Filipino skilled workers.

Once the agreement is signed, Bello said that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will be tapped for processing and accreditation; while the Philippine Labor Overseas Labor Office (POLO) – Japan will be tasked for the verification of skilled workers’ documents, coordination onsite and welfare concerns.

The National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), on the other hand, will be responsible for the reintegration of returning specified skilled workers.