[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, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) published the "MHLW International Health Vision," which included the "Circular Elderly Health Strategy," aiming to establish a sustainable health system to address the common challenge of aging populations shared by Asian and Indo-Pacific countries.

The strategy aims to increase the number of foreign caregivers who want to learn about Japanese care services by spreading knowledge about Japan's care services and human resource training systems, thereby securing care service providers within Japan. It also envisions creating a system that generates a positive cycle in the elderly health sector, such as foreign caregivers who have learned about Japanese care introducing Japanese care services in their home countries.

Source: Created by the author

According to materials from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Steering Committee for the Specified Skills Council in the Nursing Care Sector, the number of foreign residents in the nursing care sector is as follows: 5,339 with the residence status "Nursing Care," 15,011 technical interns (both as of June 2022), 3,257 EPA certified care worker candidates, and 17,066 with the Specified Skills visa (both as of January 2023). The period of stay in Japan is generally 4 to 5 years, but in the case of technical interns, it varies between 2 and 5 years depending on the test results and the requirements of the receiving organization.

The strategy states that in the future, the government will consider a comprehensive and strategic approach in cooperation with relevant parties and organizations in the public and private sectors, and will also consider recruitment approaches to Asian countries that are tailored to economic development, region, and target groups, in order to establish routes for sending personnel to Japan.

In addition, the strategy will include building relationships and strengthening cooperation with local educational institutions, conducting recruitment and public relations activities through local information sessions, and supporting nursing care businesses that are actively working to expand overseas. In addition, the plan includes dispatching experts from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to projects such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA) Caregiving Human Resources Enhancement Project to support the creation of caregiving programs and teaching materials, as well as teacher training.

Regarding support for the settlement of foreigners who come to Japan, the plan will support the development of work and living environments by receiving businesses, as well as provide career advancement support and make their careers after returning to their home countries more visible, thereby increasing incentives for them to work in Japan. In this way, the policy aims to strengthen efforts from both the perspective of securing the quality and quantity of foreign caregiving personnel.

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

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