Japan is known for its cultural, and technological advancement and highly skilled workforce. It is also known to have achieved a reputation for efficient and disciplined work environment. For decades, Japan has trained its population to be excellent skilled workers. However, the decrease in the birth rate since 2008, has caused a shortage of young labor in the country. According to data released in 2023 by Japan’s National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, over 40% of Japanese women born in 2005 could potentially remain childless. With such a dilemma, Japan has shifted its focus on recruiting an international workforce to appoint in various fields.

Consequently, in 2019, Japan has created a new “Status of Residence” through a program known as Specified Skilled Worker Program where it aimed to facilitate foreign workforce in different fields. The first phase of this program was consist of five years and was capped at 345,000 workers and resources. The program further strives to increase the number of skilled workers in the following 5 year-plan. As per resources, Japan plans to more than double the number of skilled worker visas for foreigners to over 800,000 within five years starting fiscal 2024, aiming to address labor shortages.

Types of Industries Cover Under the SSW Program

The SSW program initially covered 12 industries: Nursing care, Building cleaning management, Industrial machinery, Electronics and information industries, Construction, Shipbuilding and machinery, Automobile repair and maintenance, Aviation, Accommodation, Agriculture, Fishery and aquaculture, Food and beverages, and Foodservice. However, starting from fiscal year 2024, four additional industries—Road transportation, Railways, Forestry, and Timber are also included to facilitate more sectors.

The Types of SSW Program

The SSW Program has two main categories defined by the nature of work, skills, and language expertise of individuals. The visa is based on these factors and is categorized as.

1. Specified Skilled Workers (i)
2. Specified Skilled Workers (ii)

Let us delve into the details of these categories.

The Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa is intended for workers with basic skills. To qualify, applicants must be over 18 years old and pass both a skills test and a Japanese language test, unless they have completed Technical Intern Training. The visa can be granted for up to 5 years in total. However, family members cannot accompany the visa holder under this category.

The Specified Skilled Worker (ii) visa is for those with more advanced skills, typically requiring completion of Specified Skilled Worker (i) and passing advanced skill tests. It can be granted for 3 years, with no limit on total stay duration. Unlike the (i) visa, this category allows family members to accompany the visa holder.

Important Prospect for Pakistan

The growing opportunities in Japanese markets for Pakistanis are projected by the number of Pakistanis arriving in Japan for employment, and business has reached an all-time high as of December 2023, with over 5,000 new registrations in the past 10 months. The Pakistani community in Japan is the third-largest Muslim-majority immigrant group, following the Indonesian and Bangladeshi communities. As of December 2023, there are 25,334 registered Pakistanis living in Japan. Recently a Japanese company, BorderLink, has hired 32 Assistant Language Teachers from Pakistan in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo. This reflects the increasing demand for Pakistani workers in various sectors and highlights the job opportunities for Pakistanis in Japan.

Conclusion:

As of October 2023, Japan had around 2 million foreign workers, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. This figure is anticipated to grow further as the country faces increasing labor shortages. It is pertinent to mention that the addition of transportation in the SSW category suggests that Japan is planning to hire 25,000 drivers for taxis, buses, and trucks as part of this expansion. So opportunities never knock twice at the door. Both types of SSW programs will require a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a job offer from a Japanese company (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for which Iqbal Manpower will be assisting you to get. It is pertinent to mention that Iqbal Manpower Consultants is now also an authorized recruiting agency for Japan in Pakistan. For more information, you can listen to the CEO of Iqbal Manpower, Mr. Nadeem Iqbal explaining the job types and requirements.