Japan has long been known for its strong economy and well-developed industries. However, with an aging population and shrinking workforce, the country is facing a labor shortage.
As a result, many Japanese companies have turned to foreign workers to fill the gaps in their workforce.
Among these foreign workers, Filipinos have emerged as a preferred choice for many Japanese employers.
Recently, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte was informed by Japanese officials about their plans to offer programs to help employ Filipino nurses, caregivers, and skilled workers according to the report of Manila Bulletin.
The Minister for Health, Labour, and Welfare, Katsunobu Kato, and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Women Empowerment, Mori Masako, visited the Vice President's office, according to a statement from the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Under a number of programs offered by the Japanese government, Filipino nurses, qualified workers for construction and industrial waste treatment, and others can anticipate employment in Japan. This also indicated plans to assist the Philippines in developing resilient schools and offering internship programs.
“Kato said they also need more Filipino nurses to work in Japan under the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA),” the statement said.
Additionally, the Japanese official disclosed that 54.7% of Filipino caregivers who took the test for Japan in March passed. The highest score obtained by Filipino test takers in the previous ten years is this one.
He promised those who failed the caregivers exam that they could still remain in Japan and repeat it.
For his part, Takema informed the Vice President that Japan will provide training for the growth of the Philippine educational system this year.
“This year we succeeded to convince Tokyo to give more courses and seats for your DepEd (Department of Education) officials and teachers,” he said.
In addition, the JICA declared that it was "keen to promote PPP (Public-Private Partnership)" in order to persuade Japanese partners to visit the Philippines "to address the development challenges and exploring future investments."
Takema also emphasized the significance of imparting disaster education to elementary school students in collaboration with the local governmental entities.
He disclosed intentions to enlist JICA volunteers to tutor young Filipinos and participate in a technical education training course set to begin in August or September.
During her meeting with Masako, Duterte gave an update on the educational trend of "women learners outperforming male learners."
“This is not really a good thing but in terms of women empowerment, it shows that our female learners are doing well,” the Vice President said.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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