What is a Specified Skilled Worker?
This is a system for accepting foreigners who have a certain level of expertise and skills and are ready to work in the industrial field where it is difficult to secure human resources in Japan.
”Specified Skilled Worker” include "Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ)" and "Specified Skilled Worker(ⅱ)".
The fields for accepting foreigners by "Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ)" (specific industry fields) are the following 12 fields, but the fields for accepting foreigners by "Specified Skilled Worker(ⅱ)" are "Construction Industry" and "Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry".
In addition, by the Cabinet decision on June 9, 2023, the acceptance of "Specified Skilled Worker(ⅱ)" will be expanded to all fields other than the Nursing Care field. (The specific start date will be determined by revision of a Ministry of Justice ordinance.)
| Nursing Care | Building Cleaning Management | Machine Parts and tooling/ industrial machinery/Electric, electronics and information industries |
| Construction Industry | Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry | Automobile Repair and Maintenance |
| Aviation Industry | Accommodation Industry | Agriculture |
| Fishery and Aquaculture Industries | Manufacture of Food and Beverages | Food Service Industry |
Difference between ”Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ)” and ”Specified Skilled Worker(ⅱ)”
The differences between "Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ)" and "Specified Skilled Worker(ⅱ)" are as follows.
| Item | Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ) | Specified Skilled Worker(ⅱ) |
|---|---|---|
| Features of SSW | Those who can work in Japan as a SSW must be over 18 years old in a good health, have the necessary occupational skills and Japanese language ability to work immediately without receiving any particular training. | Skills that are even more skilled than Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ) |
| Acceptance field | 12 fields | ２ fields |
| Period of Stay | Renewal for each period designated by the Minister of Justice for each foreigner within a period not exceeding one year (up to 5 years in total) | Renewed every 3 year, 1 year, or 6 months, no limit on length of stay |
| Skill Standards | Confirmed by exams, etc. (those who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) are exempted from exams, etc.) | Confirmed by exams, etc. |
| Japanese Language Level | Proficiency in Japanese language required in daily life and at the workplace needs to be confirmed by exams, etc. | No need to confirm by exams etc. |
| Accompanied by family members | basically not permitted | Possible if it meets the requirements(Spouse, child) |
| Necessity of support for SSWs | Accepting organizations is obliged to provide support. | Accepting organizations is not obliged to provide support. |
Criteria required of the accepting organizations to accept foreigners
- Criteria required of the accepting organizations to accept foreigners with Specified Skilled Worker are as follows.
（ⅰ）Appropriate employment contract with foreigners
（ⅱ）The accepting organization itself is appropriate.
（ⅲ）The accepting organization has a system to support foreigners.
（ⅳ）The plan to support foreigners is appropriate. - Obligations imposed on the accepting organization
（ⅰ）Ensuring that the accepting organization fulfills the employment contract with the foreigner.
（ⅱ）Appropriate support for foreigners by the accepting organization.
（ⅲ）The accepting organization must make various notifications to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and Hello Work. - Creation of Specific Skilled Worker(ⅰ) foreigner support plan
The accepting organization that accept Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ) foreigners need to create a support plan and provide support based on that plan so that the foreigners can work smoothly.
The specific support contents are as follows.
- Quoted from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan document "Initiatives to Accept New Foreign Nationals and for the Realization of Society of Harmonious Coexistence"
Flow prior to start of work as a "Specified Skilled Worker"
When hir a foreigner as a "Specified Skilled Worker", the flow is different from the normal employment of foreigners as follows.
- Quoted from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan document "Initiatives to Accept New Foreign Nationals and for the Realization of Society of Harmonious Coexistence"
Role of Registered Support Organization
A company that employs a foreigner of Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ) must create a support plan to enable the foreigner to work smoothly, and provide support based on that plan.
If you want to hire foreigners with Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ) but find it difficult to provide support on your own, a Registered Support Organization will provide support on behalf of the company.
One of the contents of support is"Regarding consultations, complaints, etc. from foreigners with Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ) in the workplace and in life, supporters should respond in a language that the foreigner can fully understand and give advice and guidance."
Therefore, when requesting a Registration Support Organization, it is necessary to select a Registration Support Organization that can respond in a language that the employed foreigner of Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ) can fully understand.
For those who are thinking of hiring foreigners as a Specified Skilled Worker
Employing a foreigner as a Specified Skilled Worker is more complicated than hiring a foreigner with another working visa.
Our office is registered as a Registered Support Organization (registration number: 23 -008547).
In addition, our office can respond not only in English but also in Sinhala.
If it is difficult for your company to provide support, but you would like to hire foreigners with Specified Skilled Worker(ⅰ), please contact our office.
VIZA Yamamoto Office
Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists
10-9, Inagedai-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba-city, Chiba Prf. 263-0032, Japan
E-mail：info@gyousei-y.com
Phone number：+81 441 5408
Business hours：10:00～19:00（Except Sundays & Holidays）
We accept emails 24 hours a day, so if you are in a hurry, please contact us by email.