Background and Urgency of the Proposal
This proposal is issued by Kazuo Arai, President of the National Association of Supervisory Organizations (NASO), to sound the alarm about the serious impact that the government’s “Training Employment System” will bring if enforced, and to call for its reconsideration.
This new system, intended to replace the Technical Intern Training Program, imposes harsh regulations, ignores the realities of an aging society and labor shortages, and above all, undermines the motivation of foreign workers who wish to work in Japan.
▶ Click here for a detailed article about the new system
SMEs, beware! The last resort for small businesses to secure human resources—foreign recruitment—will be shut down!
Youth aspiring to work in Japan – Selection event in the Philippines
As shown in the chart, most JLPT test-takers are “students,” “researchers,” or “highly educated individuals.” Even for such candidates, the pass rate for N5 is around 50%, and for N4 it is around 40%.
(Source: Japan Foundation / Japan Educational Exchanges and Services)
Our Position: The Japanese-language certificate requirement should be abolished. On the ground, we value work ethic and practical skills more than language proficiency. There are plenty of people who work diligently even without high Japanese skills. Making certification a prerequisite will actually drive away earnest, reliable workers.
Voices from the Field
Are you really serious about making trainees obtain a Japanese language certificate before entering Japan? How are they supposed to study for the exam? How will exams be conducted for hundreds of thousands of applicants? Who will cover the costs? In the first place, those who can afford the time, money, and academic ability to study foreign languages would not choose to come to Japan to do dirty or heavy labor. This shows a complete lack of understanding of reality. On the contrary, Japan will lose diligent and dedicated workers.
With stricter regulations, trainees will surely decrease. And the ones who will suffer the most are Japanese workers. They will have to do the jobs currently being done by trainees. Our line of work is something no one willingly wants to do. Young Japanese people will not even consider it. This will only accelerate the shortage of workers. With requirements like Japanese language education, new obligations, and endless paperwork, do you intend to drive us out of business?
I have been working with supervising organizations for over 20 years to train Filipino workers. We have had no absconders, no major accidents, and the company has grown. Recently, a supervising organization told me, “When the new ‘Developmental Employment’ system starts in two years, there will be numerical restrictions, so we may no longer be able to work with your company.” I don’t know what to do. There are no problems at all — companies, trainees, and supervising organizations coexist in harmony. Please explain why this must be disrupted.
Let’s Make Our Voices Heard
The only way to stop this ruthless law is through political power.
Small and medium-sized enterprises, please petition your local representatives.
The fear we feel now is by no means a baseless delusion of small businesses. One administrative lawyer has said that if companies are destroyed in the name of protecting foreign workers and focusing on paperwork, it would defeat the very purpose. A JICA report even states that if this law comes into force, Japan will no longer be chosen by foreign workers.
Voluntary Coalition to Pursue Issues in the Ikusei-Shuro System
National Association of Supervising Organizations (NASO)
Contact for opinions: kyx04112@nifty.com
Let us speak up and take action to protect the path for securing human resources for small and medium-sized enterprises
and to give dreams and hope to future successors.
Do not be intimidated by authorities, experts, or the media. Our right to express and petition is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Trainees taking the certification exam
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