Brief explanation of skill training system for foreigners
The government regulation on the Technical Intern Training for Foreign People Program in Japan had been formed from the mid-1960s which is training for employees of subsidiaries located outside of Japan. This regulation was evaluated and made official in 1993.
The meaning and purpose of the regulation on Technical Intern Training for Foreign People Program is that skills developed in Japan, technology and science (in this case are skills in work) can be channeled to the people living in the developing countries. Also as the real contribution from Japan with the program (Hitoduzkuri / Creating superior human resources) who would be responsible for developing countries (from an economic point of view)
The purpose of this regulation is the idea to systematize the systems and regulations on skills training for foreign workers. (After being made in 1993). This employment regulation is the basic concept and set forth in article 3, paragraph 2 which reads (Training of trainers should not be done as a means of adjusting labor bargaining)
The content of Technical Intern Training for Foreign People Program regulation is the engagement of contracts of employment between trained foreigners (who already have special skills in the home country and who wish to acquire skills and proficiency in work) with a Japanese company or certain private companies based in Japan. The training period is 5 years and the skill acquisition process is done according to the schedule and the plan that had been prepared.
Currently, the regulation of Technical Intern Training for Foreign People Program (who have specialization in certain fields) had been further revised in the year 2010. Using these regulations, currently foreigners who come to Japan for work, are increasing annually. Records from December 2017 to January 2018 are estimated up to 250,000 foreigners from 15 different countries working in 77 jobs and 139 different job positions such as agriculture, fishery, buildings,and others. After 2017, the type of nursing work is increasing, therefore the number of foreign workers coming to Japan is also increasing.
(※)2018-January
〔The number of foreigner living in Japan with status as a skilled worker〕
Name of country | 2012year | 2013year | 2014year | 2015year | 2016year | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 34,794 | 28,805 | 26,635 | 21,136 | 11,193 | 122,563 |
Vietnum | 4,495 | 6,114 | 11,176 | 16,711 | 12,542 | 51,038 |
Phillipine | 1,489 | 1,749 | 2,782 | 3,035 | 1,962 | 11,017 |
Indonesia | 1,556 | 1,619 | 2,282 | 2,480 | 1,407 | 9,344 |
Thailand | 781 | 1,043 | 1,486 | 1,780 | 1,025 | 6,115 |
etc | 928 | 1,080 | 2,414 | 3,555 | 2,176 | 10,153 |
Total | 44,043 | 40,410 | 46,775 | 48,697 | 30,305 | 210,230 |
Outline of Technical Intern Training for Foreign People Program.
The rules and regulations on this Technical Intern Training are part of international contributions and international cooperation for developing countries. They the trainees work under contract with trainee training centers or Japanese companies (who want young workers from developing countries) for 3 or 5 years to gain proficiency and expertise in the work that they did. After the contract expires and returns home, they are expected to spread the knowledge and skills they had to improve the economy in their home country.
(1) The trainees are expected upon returning home, by demonstrating their work skills and talents that they had, it could enhance self-motivation in work and contribute to the improvement of industrial technology for companies in their respective countries.
(2) The trainees are expected later on with their skills that have been honed in Japan, they can demonstrate the ability to always be curious about new things and understand about the quality management of products, understand the work culture, have an understanding about cost production, and play a role in increasing the production of factories and improvement of business activity
(3) For us training institutes in Japan, this program can strengthen the relationships with the companies in foreign countries, internationalization of working administration, and contribute to the revitalization of the company.
The role of each institution
The destination country for recruitment
Local government accreditation agency and trainer registration agencies
・Type of registration procedure related to the distribution
・Health test examination before leaving the country to Japan
・Trainees protection
・Protection of the trainees families
・A visit to the training organizer
・Management after returning to homeland, guidance, and advice.
Companies affiliated with trainer participants
・Type of registration procedure related to the distribution
・Recommendation of selected trainee candidates
・Establishment of employee status and reassurance of employment even though they had returned to the country of origin
・Providing advice, guidance, and management after returning home
From Japan side
Trade associations and cooperative business associations
・Providing work preparation classes for 160 hours
・Visit to the training organizer agency
・Reporting to the immigration office
・Counseling for trainees
・Assurance after returning home
・Selection of alternative training organizer company in case of difficulty,when undergoing training at this time
The companies that accepting trainees
・Implementation of training based on the planning that had been made
・Evaluation and making journal regarding the training
・Training participants Recruitment who have met the labor laws and regulations.
・Control and work guidance, training, and daily life.
Requirements for admission of prospective foreign intern trainee.
Foreigners who want to train in Japan must meet the following requirements.
【Basic requirements of acceptance】
・Age over 18 and now working or had worked in a field that meet the acceptance qualification
・After the training period ends, the assurance for working again in the country of origin.
・Understanding the meaning and rules of the law on Training Program, also has a high spirit to follow the internship program
・People who get recommendations from local government to join the training program
・Can follow pre-departure training program to Japan (program about 3 months or more).
・Those who graduated from junior high school or equivalent
・Those who have not had experience in training in Japan.
・There are no critical health problems (such as dental and others)
・Have sufficient Japanese language skills to participate in training program
※For care work, N4 levels are needed
・Understand that the work to be done is not an easy task
ABOUT THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN THE LABOR DISTRIBUTION
Employment agencies or interns are principally 15 developing countries that have worked together with JITCO and R / D. Regarding the way more detailed acceptance and treatment of possible problems may be different later on. If this happens, the agency may recruit participants from developed countries such as Europe and America. R / D stands for Record of Discussions that was born together with the formation of rules on employment for foreigners, and has the function of exchanging official documents related to Japan.
JITCO or Japan International Training Corporation Organization is a foundation / (now changed to Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) that established by the cooperation of ministries of law affairs, foreign affairs, workers's welfare, economic and transportation industries established in 1991. Aimed to encourage and runs rules well and skills training system for and internships for foreigners. In addition,for being the registration agent and application submission of residence status to the immigration office. Other tasks of this organizations are to provide assistance, provide comprehensive implementation advice, support, and comprehensive assistance to agency companies, employment agencies, and private organizations abroad.
1:China〔State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs. | CSJTCO〕
2:Indonesia〔Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration(MOT&T)〕
3:Vietnum〔Department of Overseas Labour(DOLAB)〕
4:Philippine〔Philippine Overseas Employment Administration(POEA)/Overseas Workers Welfare Administration(OWWA)〕
5:Thailand〔Department of Employment(DOE)〕
6:Peru〔Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción del Empleo (MTPE)〕
7:LAOS〔Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW)〕
8:Srilanka〔Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment(SLBFE)〕
9:India〔Ministry of Labour & Employment(MOLE) / Directorate General of Employment and Training(DGET)〕
10:Myanmer〔Department of Labour, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population(DOL)〕
11:Mongolia〔Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLSP), Employment Policy Promotion and Coordination Bureau(MOL) 〕
12:Uzbekistan〔Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population (MLSP)〕
13:Cambodia〔Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT)〕
14:Nepal〔Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE)〕
15:Bangladesh〔Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment (MOEWOE)〕
about the type of work that goes into qualification
If it approved occupations for transfer to technical intern training (ii)), the maximum to accept trainees are within 3 years. If the type of work does not match the one listed in the table, as long as it meets the requirements (about training and internship), then the agency may only accept worker within one year only.
(Notes: The type of work must be in accordance with the job qualified in technical intern training (ii).
If the type of work that has not been registered has passed the evaluation exam, then the type of work will get an additional 2 years permit with a maximum of 3 years can receive worker with that type of work)
Job category | Work type | |
---|---|---|
Agriculture ※ | Gardening | |
Upland crop / vegetable | ||
Fruit growing | ||
Animal husbandry ※ | Pig farming | |
Poultry | ||
Dairy |
Job name | Work name | |
---|---|---|
Good beneathing | Celestial plate punching machine construction | |
Pivoting weight | ||
sheet metal | Sheet Metal Work | |
Sheet metal processing | ||
Construction refrigeration air conditioning | Construction of cold facility construction | |
Raw materials | Wood fine woodworking craftsmanship | |
Carpenters building | Carpentry work | |
Formwork construction | Formwork construction work | |
Steel reinforcement | Steel muscle assembly work | |
Brilliant | Jumping work | |
Building stone | Stone processing business | |
Rock climbing | ||
ceramic tile | Tile work | |
Roof tile | Awkward work | |
Formally left | Plastering work | |
Blow | Building pipeline engineering | |
Building insulation | Insulation and cooling work | |
Construction completed | Plastic floor finishing work | |
Carpet finishing work | ||
Steel structure foundation construction | ||
Board finishing work | ||
Curtain construction work | ||
Belt construction | Window frame construction engineering | |
Waterproof construction | Sealed waterproof construction work | |
Concrete pumping installation | Concrete pumping work | |
Well construction | Well point construction work | |
Table instrument | Wall work | |
Construction machinery construction ※ | Grounding and leveling work | |
Excavation work | ||
Compaction work | ||
Construction furnace | Construction work |
Job name | Work name | |
---|---|---|
Textile processing※ | Textile processing work | |
Sewing machine work | ||
Winding operation | ||
Yarn processing work | ||
Woven fabric※ | ||
Weaving operation | ||
Finishing work | ||
Spun yarn | Yarn penetration work | |
Fiber dyeing work | ||
Manufacture of fabric products | Circular knitting manufacturing work | |
Socks production | ||
Warp knitted fabric production※ | Warp knitted fabric production | |
Women's clothing manufacture | Ready-made garment sewing operation | |
Manufacture of men's clothes | Men's clothing sewing work | |
Underwear manufacture※ | Underwear manufacturing work | |
Bedding manufacturing | Bedding manufacturing work | |
Woven fabric manufacturing※ | Woven fabric production work | |
Carpet manufacturing work | ||
Needle pattern manufacturing industry | ||
Canvas product manufacturing industry | Canvas product manufacturing industry | |
Cloth Fabric Fabric | Manufacturing work | |
Sheet sewing※ | Car seat sewing operation |
Occupation name | Work name | |
---|---|---|
Furniture production | Furniture production | |
Printing industry | Offset printing work | |
Better note | Binding work | |
Plastic molding | Compression molding operation | |
Injection molding operation | ||
Inflation molding work | ||
Blow molding operation | ||
Reinforced plastic molding | Manual stacking operation | |
Painting | Architectural coating work | |
Metal painting | ||
Steel bridge painting work | ||
Painting work | ||
Welding※ | manual welding | |
Semiautomatic contact | ||
Industrial packaging | Industrial packaging machinery | |
Raw paper box Washi paper box | Striking and Cutting Operation | |
Box printing business | ||
Stick box manufacturing work | ||
Paperboard box manufacturing work | ||
Manufacturing pottery industry products※ | Equipment glazing molding work | |
Press fitting operation | ||
Transfer Craft | ||
Automobile maintenance※ | Automobile maintenance | |
Building cleaning | Building cleaning | |
Nurse | Nurse | |
Airport operator | Aircraft ground support work |
Job name | Work name | |
---|---|---|
Fishing boat fishery ※ | Fishery | |
Longline fishing | ||
Fishing fish | ||
Fishery | ||
Fishing net catching fish | ||
String net fishery | ||
Fixed net fishery | ||
Fish crab, mortar bag | ||
Water and aquaculture industry ※ | Fan shell / Oyster culture work |
Job name | Job name | .pgf |
---|---|---|
canning ※ | Canning operation | |
Processing industry ※ | Processing work | |
Heated and processed food manufacturing industry ※ | Raw product | |
Dry product manufacture | ||
Manufacture of processed goods | ||
Production of smoked goods | ||
Non heating fishery processing Food manufacturing industry ※ | Manufacture of salt products | |
Manufacture of dried products | ||
Production of fermented foods | ||
Manufacturing industry of fishery products | Manufacture of fishery products | |
Beef manufacturing industry ※ | Beef manufacturing business | |
Ham, sausage, bacon manufacturing industry | Ham, sausage, bacon manufacturing | |
Fermentation production | Fermentation production work | |
Food processing industry ※ | Food processing industry |
Occupation name | Work name | |
---|---|---|
casting | Cast iron casting operation | |
Non-ferrous metal casting work | ||
Forging | Hammer forging work | |
Metal working operation | ||
Die casting | Hot chamber die casting operation | |
Cold chamber die casting operation | ||
Machining | Lathe operation | |
Pig iron bed operation | ||
Metal press working operation | Metal press working operation | |
Iron industry | Structure iron work | |
Plant Gold Plate | Sheet Metal Processing of Machine Tools | |
Plating process | ||
Anodizing treatment | ||
Anodizing treatment | Anodizing treatment | |
Finishing | Tool finishing work | |
Mold finishing work | ||
Machine assembly work | ||
Machine inspection work | Machine inspection work | |
Equipment storage | Machinery maintenance work | |
Electronic assembly work | Electronic assembly work | |
Electrical equipment assembly | Electrical equipment assembly | |
Transformer assembly work | ||
Tool assembly work | ||
Motor circuit manufacturing work | ||
Substrate manufacturing industry | Board design work | |
Substrate manufacturing work |
ACCEPTANCE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
At the company (training period), every year the number of people who can be supplied is limited depending on the full-time scale of the employees of the company. The number of full-time employees are the number of original employees other than the employees who are under a short-term contract such as part-time work. Please read the reference image as below.
Total number of full-time employees (original employees) in the institutions or the training organizers; | Number of intern trainees |
---|---|
Over301 | 1/20 of the original number of employees |
201~300person | 15person |
101~200person | 10person |
51~100 | 6person |
41~50 | 5person |
31~40 | 4person |
30~ | 3person |


ABOUT METHODS OF RECRUITMENT
Technical Intern Training contains the maximum of 3-year of internship period in which trainees are under contract, where they work in the company for skills and expertise. The employment acceptance scheme is divided into two methods: acceptance by individual enterprise or acceptance by organization.
When they are accepted by organization, after the trainees come to Japan, they will receive training and courses (such as Japanese language training and explanations of legal protection for trainees) and under contract with their training organizers, they will try to gain practical expertise. If the results of such expertise are evaluated and exceeded the standards, then such company or agency may change the employee’s admission license from under 3 years (technical intern training (ii) ) into maximum 3 years.
(N.b.) Individual enterprise recruitment also require some courses, but the implementation period is different from the group recruitment.
There are two ways of recruiting foreign workers.
(1) individual enterprise:
Japanese companies (as well as training institutes) receive their own employees who work in overseas branch companies, joint ventures, or partner companies and conduct the training themselves.
(2) supervised by organization:
Organization (Supervising organization) that does not intend to seek profit like Society of Commerce and Industry, Small Business Association, cooperation, or Incorporated associaition, will receive techinal intern trainee and conduct technical internship at practical training institution.
ABOUT THE STATUS OF RESIDENCE FOR TRAINEES
There are two types of qualifications as below, with the activity content involving the trainees. First, the first year in Japan, which in that year gained expertise after entering Japan, and the second and third year of maturation of the skills that had been acquired. And for skilled worker visa status is divided into 4 classes.
Type | Year 1 | Year 2・3 |
individual enterprise type | Resident status (technical intern training (i)a) | Resident status(technical intern training (ii)a) |
Supervised by organization type | Resident status (technical intern training (i)b) | Resident status (technical intern training (ⅱ)b) |
ABOUT THE PERIOD OF RESIDENCE STATUS AS A TRAINEE
The training participants in the second year, to settle and to follow the training process, after completing the technical intern training (i), they have to pass level two of National Trade Skills Test conducted by Javada (Japan Vocational Ability Development Association) located at each prefecture. After getting permission to change the residence status from immigration, they may continue to follow the technical intern training (ii).
In such cases, trainee participants must acquire skills in the same skill field and at the same training organizer (the place where skill as technical intern training (i) is acquired.
First year in Japan:technical intern training (i) / as a target/ Mastery of work skills → after completing the training, if passed on National Trade Skills Test conducted by JAVDA → change to technical intern training (ii)
Year two and so on in Japan :technical intern training (ii)) / Already professional on the honed skills → Professional training
Flow from the question and answer process -> go to Japan -> work placement-> until returning to home
Estimates from the first question and answer process to placement takes up to 6 months. We recommend to think of the unwanted conditions when determining the time lengths of this process
We will introduce a number of well-qualified domestic employment agencies for trainee candidates (who wish to acquire technical skills by coming to Japan and join Technical Intern Training for Foreign People Program) who are unaware of certified employment agencies in their country.
We will introduce the best and qualified partner organization for companies that are wishing to recruit trained foreign workers but not yet know the foreign workers employment agency from Japan. Or another case where it had cooperated with the foreign workers employment agency but for other reasons want to replace it
We will make the necessary official documents for foreign workers employment agencies from countries of origin and employment agencies from Japan.
【Important document】 For more detailsJITCOplease log into:「Status of residence Documents to be submitted」web with keyword (no version other than Japanese)。
Bureau
(JITCO/Japan International Trading Cooperation Organization)
Japan International Trading Cooperation Organization(JITCO)checks will be made on the submitted documents,By completing the incomplete document, we will also register from JITCO to the immigration office
(Regional Immigration Bureau)
Conducted investigation process of COE application requirement documents at Regional Immigration Bureau
(Board of management)
After COE requirement document has been checked and the positive result of COE is issued by the Regional Immigration Bureau (Can go to Japan with the petitioned status), through JITCO, COE and Zairyuukado / resident card sent to the organizer
(Consulate of Japan overseas)
Upon receiving the COE, the local employment agency will be notified of the admission of the trainees' entry permit to Japan. After that it is expected that the trainee participants to come to the Japanese embassy in each respective country to submit COE and make the visa.
Previously matched the arrival schedule that had been agreed before leaving the homeland to Japan
On the day of arrival in Japan, the staff (from the company and Society of Commerce and Industrya s an institution which receive the trainee participants) come to the airport to pick up the trainee participants.
Pre-employment training for one month or 160 hours. In the course, participants will receive Japanese language training and introduction to the Japanese culture. If previously they had received 80 hours of training in their home country, they just have to complete the remaining 80 hours of courses in Japan
We will prepare the environment and the training environment (work) such as work equipment and life support equipment. This preparation is done no more than one week before the placement
The organizer will welcome trainees and place them in the company. After placement, trainee participants are required to report themselves and get a residence statement to the local municipal office within 14 days.
Regarding salary (as an illustration)
Provision of salary to trainees must follow the Japanese government regulations about the minimum wage for each prefecture.
The calculation is: minimum wage per prefecture X 1 number of working hours in one day X Number of working days in one month = monthly salary
Regarding salary (as an illustration)
Prefecture name | Minimum wage (hourly)JPY | Prefecture name | Minimum wage (hourly)JPY |
---|---|---|---|
Hokkaido | 810 | Aichi | 871 |
Aomori | 738 | Mie | 820 |
Iwate | 738 | Shiga | 813 |
Miyagi | 772 | Kyoto | 856 |
Akita | 738 | Osaka | 909 |
Yamagata | 739 | Hyogo | 844 |
Fukushima | 748 | Nara | 786 |
Ibaragi | 796 | Wakayama | 777 |
Tochigi | 800 | Tottori | 738 |
Gunma | 783 | Shimane | 740 |
Saitama | 871 | Okayama | 781 |
Chiba | 868 | Hiroshima | 818 |
Tokyo | 958 | Yamaguchi | 777 |
Kanagawa | 956 | Tokushima | 740 |
Niigata | 778 | Kagawa | 766 |
Toyama | 795 | Ehime | 739 |
Ishikawa | 781 | Kochi | 737 |
Fukui | 778 | Fukuoka | 789 |
Yamanashi | 784 | Saga | 737 |
Nagano | 795 | Nagasaki | 737 |
Gifu | 800 | Kumamoto | 737 |
Shizuoka | 832 | Oita | 737 |
Kagoshima | 737 | Miyazaki | 737 |
Okinawa | 737 |
※For the latest calculation as of December 2017: for example if trainee participants work in Tokyo with 8 hours per day and get two days off on weekend then:
・Minimum wage in Tokyo : 958yen/Hour X 1 day = 8 hours working X 22 working days = 168,608JPY/month
※The minimum wage of each province and each year is different. It is expected to continue to conduct periodic checks.
About life after placement
About housing
It is expected that the company prepares a dormitory or residence after placement
As the requirements for foreign recipient companies that they are required for the company to prepare the residence for the trainee participants so that they are not worried about the cost of housing and there is no need to find their own residence. Also another requirementare the equipment below at the trainee participant’s residents
【goods to be prepared in residence as a requirement for the company】
・Have a place to stay for the trainees to stay in
・It has cooling and heating equipment
・Bed
・Bath’s equipment
・Cooking utensils
Supporting for the life of trainee participants
①Because there are differences in language and culture, they are certainly worried about life after they come to Japan. For that, one year after they enter Japan, a 160-hour collective training course will be held that will include Japanese language training and introduction to Japanese culture.
※If in their home country they had received 80 hours of training, then they only need to follow the remaining 80 hours of training after they come to Japan
②Staff working at the admissions agency will come periodically to conduct counseling processes for trainees to discuss life in Japan and training.
If they have problems and get confused, they can consult to the staff. Staff in various ways will support the training participants. After that, they will also get support from the company staff who will help guide related to the training and the life during the stay in Japan, sothe traineesdo not have to worry
Costs incurred by the recipient company
Of course there are fees from entry into Japan to placement, and the cost of entering Japan to training. The cost of the first period (the recipient company) must be paid. The initial period costs incurred by the recipient companies are as follows:
・Domestic transportation costs during training and airfare costs to Japan
・Charge when handling the status of residence.
・Cost of collective training conducted for a month after entry from Japan
・Assurance paid for trainees as living expenses for a month after entering Japan
・The cost of water, electricity, gas, and residence during training for one month after entering Japan
・Transfer fee to placement dorm after training and pickup fee from airplane when it arrives in Japan
・Health insurance costs (for 3 years)
Costs incurred by intern trainees
【Costs incurred by trainees after placement】
After they came to Japan, they completed training related to life in Japan and training. Those who have been assigned their work placements will be transferred to the company / agency that they will be placed and start working.
Every month there is a living expenses that must be incurred by trainees. However, trainee participants do not have to worry because all payments related to living expenses will be made and dealt with by the company.
Therefore, the cost as written below will be withdrawn directly from the monthly salary.
※The fees listed below are the cost of living as a trainee participant and can not be paid directly.
・Accommodation fee (monthly)
・Water, gas and electricity costs (monthly)
・Cost of renewal of residence status (seal price)
※ Once they pass the National Trade Skills test, the second year after which they wish to stay again in Japan is required a return fee for renewal of the residence status.
・The cost of the test National Trade Skills Test to change the status from No.1 to No.2 (1 year stay status to 3 years)
・Course fee for exam preparation of National Trade Skills Test
・Agency costs and investigations conducted by JITCO