Filipino nurses, caregivers may train, work in Japan starting this year, DOLE says

Tacloban City -- Starting this year, Filipino nurses and caregivers will have the chance to be recruited for training and for employment in Japan under the Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment informed on Monday, January 12.

This, after the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS) represented by POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardin-Manalili and JICWELS managing director Takashi Tsunoda, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding providing for the recruitment of Filipino nurses as candidate-kangoshi and caregivers as candidate-kaigofukushishi to Japan under the Framework for the Movement of Natural Persons of JPEPA which came into force on December 11, 2008.

The MOU provides for the roles and responsibilities of the both parties and the working conditions of the Filipino nurses and caregivers, that would ensure their welfare and safety while training and working in Japan.

The hiring program will start with the initial recruitment of 200 Filipino nurses and 300 caregivers who will be endorsed to JICWELS by POEA. JICWELS, for its part, will match the nurses and caregivers to hospitals and institutions in Japan that it had pre-qualified to receive the Filipino candidates.

Prior to their actual work with their respective employers in Japan, the selected candidates will undergo a six-month language and culture training, during which time, the candidates shall receive allowance of not less than 40,000 yen of more than P21,000 per month.

The language training will help the candidates prepare for the Japanese licensure examination which can be taken not more than three times within three years in the case of the candidate nurses and once on the 4th year of stay in the case of candidate-caregivers.

Before obtaining their qualification as full-fledged nurse in Japan, the candidate nurses will work under the supervision of a Japanese kangoshi to fully familiarize them with the Japanese system.

After passing the licensure or certification examinations, the fully qualified nurse and certified caregiver will have the option to stay for an unlimited period in Japan to practice their profession based on new and upgraded employment contract with their employer.

Registered nurses with at least three years experience are qualified to apply for training and employment in Japan. Candidate caregivers, on the other hand, should be a graduate of a four-year course and should be certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Graduates of a nursing course may also apply as caregiver.

Applicants shall be required to undergo an aptitude test and interview by JICWELS to facilitate their matching with employers. After selection, they must pass the required medical examination to conclude the employment contract and to successfully qualify to enter Japan. Nominal expenses of application shall be borne by applicants for document submission/authentication, medical examination (P1,500 basic) and visa fee (P1,150). Airfare and on-site training costs are shouldered by the employers or the Government of Japan.

Qualified nurses and caregivers may apply with POEA and to register online at www.eregister.poea.gov.ph. (PIA)