MANILA – The 17th batch of Filipino candidates for nurse and certified careworker under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) started their Preparatory Japanese Languange Training with an opening ceremony on Tuesday, attended by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines ENDO Kazuya.
In a news release from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Amb. Endo shared his remarks by conveying his gratitude to the candidates for selecting Japan “as the destination for their future aspirations."
Endo also considered it “an honor for Japan to experience first hand the warm professionalism and support of Filipino healthcare workers.”
The Japanese Embassy confirmed that 238 candidates will undertake six months of education on Japanese language, culture, and society prior to their deployment to Japan.
“The training will be implemented online and onsite by the Japan Foundation, Manila and Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc. For the whole duration of the training, each candidate will receive daily living and internet allowances, and will be lent a tablet computer device,” the Japanese Embassy said.
When the candidates arrive in Japan, they will undergo an additional six months of Japanese language training prior to their respective assignments in hospitals and caregiving facilities, the Japanese Embassy said.
The candidates who eventually pass the Japanese national examination for nurse or certified caregiver can further their employment status in Japan beyond their initial number of years under the EPA program, the Embassy added.
Officials who attended the opening ceremony were Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Services Felicitas Q. Bay of the Department of Migrant Workers; National Language Skills Center Administrator Mitzi G. Samson-Endriano of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Director SUZUKI Ben of the Japan Foundation, Manila; President Philip B. Sanvictores of the Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc.; and Managing-Director, Board of Directors KATAOKA Yoshikazu of Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services.
For future announcements regarding the program, the Japanese Embassy encourages interested participants to visit the official website of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) at www.dmw.gov.ph.
Japan needs more careworkers due to its “ageing population”
Earlier in June, a congressional delegation from the Philippines “secured’ a commitment from top Japanese parliamentarians to hire more Filipino workers, particularly caregivers for the elderly.
In discussions with National Diet of Japan Speaker Fukushiro Nukuga and Vice Speaker Banri Kaieda, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said that Kaide “acknowledged Japan’s demographic challenges” and the need to fill the needed workforce in the caregiving sector, especially for its elderly population.
“Japan is facing a decrease in population, and in this regard, Japan truly appreciates the Filipinos working here, especially elderly care workers,” Kaieda was quoted as saying.
“We are looking forward to welcoming more Filipinos to work in Japan,” Kaieda added.
