Japan helps Filipino returnees get jobs

FILE PHOTO

The Embassy of Japan in Manila will hold a job fair for returning Filipino nurses and caregivers on Aug. 28 in Taguig City.

Japan has been accepting Filipino nurses and caregivers under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).

The job fair will benefit returnees who were not able to take the Japanese licensure examination and those who had opted to return to the Philippines after their job term in Japan.

In a statement posted on the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) website, the Japanese Embassy said that around 400 Filipino nurses and caregivers had returned to the Philippines.

“They have experienced working in a hospital or care-giving facility in Japan under direct supervision of Japanese staff, and have obtained superior knowledge and skills in this field. They have also been educated in basic Japanese through the language training provided by the Japanese government and living in Japan for three to five years,” the embassy said.

The embassy holds an annual job fair with Japanese companies and medical institutes in the Philippines to help returning Filipino nurses and caregivers further utilize their skills and experiences acquired in Japan and to strengthen Japan-Philippines relations.

Last year, around 50 Jpepa returnees and 26 companies participated in the job fair.

Many Japanese companies in some sectors like construction and service were in need of Japanese-speaking Filipino staff. As a result, some returnees were hired as company nurses, interpreters and office staff.

More employer participants from Japanese companies and medical institutes and even more Jpepa returnees are said to be participating this year.