[Info. File] Strengthening Japan’s Strategy to Secure Foreign Caregiving Personnel

Based on the "Global Health Vision of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan"

In August 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) released its "Global Health Vision of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan", in which it announced a “Circular Elderly Health Strategy” aimed at building sustainable health systems to address population aging—a shared challenge across Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

The strategy seeks to expand global awareness of Japan’s know-how in long-term care services and caregiver training so as to increase the number of foreign caregivers who wish to study Japanese care, thereby helping secure caregiving personnel within Japan. It also envisions a mechanism that generates a virtuous cycle in senior health: foreign caregivers trained in Japan will introduce and disseminate Japanese caregiving practices in their home countries.

Source: Compiled by the author

According to materials from the MHLW’s Steering Committee for the Specified Skilled Worker Council (care sector), the number of foreign residents working in the care field is as follows: 5,339 with the “Care Worker” residence status and 15,011 technical intern trainees (both as of June 2022); 3,257 EPA-certified care workers and candidates and 17,066 with Specified Skilled Worker status (both as of January 2023). The typical permitted length of stay is about 4–5 years, though for technical intern trainees it varies between 2–5 years depending on exam results and requirements met by the receiving organization.

Looking ahead, the strategy calls for comprehensive, strategic action in partnership with public- and private-sector stakeholders and institutions. It includes tailored recruitment approaches across Asian countries based on levels of economic development and target populations, with the aim of establishing reliable pipelines for sending talent to Japan.

Additional measures include building relationships and strengthening collaboration with local educational institutions; on-site information sessions for recruitment and outreach; and support for care providers that actively expand overseas. The plan also provides for dispatching MHLW experts to JICA projects that develop caregivers’ competencies—supporting the creation of care curricula and teaching materials and training instructors.

For post-arrival retention, the strategy supports receiving organizations in improving work and living conditions, and seeks to raise incentives to work in Japan through career-advancement support and visualizing career paths after returning home. In this way, Japan aims to strengthen efforts on both quality and quantity in securing foreign caregiving personnel.

(Published with additions and revisions in the November 2024 issue of "EN-ICHI FORUM")

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