Obtaining a residence status and working as a care worker in Japan has many benefits for workers in Asian countries. The reasons for this can be explained from various aspects, including economic benefits, career advancement opportunities, learning Japanese nursing care skills, and access to Japan’s social security system. Below, we will discuss the benefits in detail, including specific examples.
1.Economic benefits
For workers in Asian countries, working as a nursing care worker in Japan has great economic benefits. Japan is an economically developed country with high wage levels, so salaries for nursing care workers are relatively high compared to emerging and developing countries in Asia. For example, in countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and China, even if you work as a caregiver, the local average wage is low, making it difficult to earn enough to support your family.
On the other hand, the average salary for nursing care workers in Japan is around 200,000 to 250,000 yen per month. Even after subtracting the cost of living in Japan, remittances can support the lives of families in their home countries, making it an attractive place of employment for workers from Asian countries. In fact, there are many cases where Filipino workers remit the income they earn from nursing care jobs in Japan to their home country and use it to pay for their children’s education and living expenses for their families.
Additionally, the Japanese government is working to improve the treatment of nursing care workers, increasing wages and enhancing benefits. This is a major benefit for nursing care workers as they can expect stable income in the future.
2.Opportunities for career advancement and technical acquisition
At nursing care sites in Japan, you can learn high-quality nursing care techniques and knowledge. Japan is an aging society, and advanced efforts are being made regarding nursing care technology and services, so you can gain advanced skills and experience that are different from those in nursing care settings in other countries. For example, in Japan, care is practiced that emphasizes the dignity of users, and a wide range of specialized knowledge is required, including dementia care, rehabilitation methods, and the use of welfare equipment.
For workers from Asian countries, experience in nursing care in Japan can also lead to career advancement when they return to their home countries. The nursing care skills and knowledge acquired in Japan are highly valued by nursing care facilities and welfare services in your home country, allowing you to take on a leadership role as a nursing care professional after returning to your home country. For example, there have been reports of people coming from Vietnam to Japan to work as care workers as technical interns, and then returning to their home countries to work as managers or trainers at care facilities. Being able to develop a career path in the nursing care industry through work experience in Japan is a great benefit for workers in Asian countries.
3.Obtaining Japanese Nursing Care Qualification
Workers from Asian countries who work in the nursing care profession in Japan will be given the opportunity to obtain Japanese national qualifications such as Certified Care Worker. The Japanese certified care worker qualification proves that you have specialized knowledge and skills in the field of nursing care, and is highly regarded internationally. By acquiring qualifications, you can expect a wider range of employment possibilities, stable employment, and higher salaries.
For example, there are an increasing number of cases in which technical intern trainees from the Philippines come to Japan to work in nursing care facilities. After gaining experience in Japan, they pass the certified care worker exam and are employed as full-time employees at nursing care facilities in Japan. Having a certified care worker qualification not only allows you to take a responsible position within a facility, but also allows you to receive high praise when you return to your home country and contribute to the development of local welfare services.
4.Use of Japan’s social security system
Foreign workers working in Japan can also take advantage of Japan’s social security system. Specific examples include health insurance and pension systems. By enrolling in health insurance, you can work with peace of mind as the burden of medical expenses will be reduced in the event of illness or injury. In addition, by joining a pension system, you will be entitled to receive a pension in the future, so you can prepare to support your life in retirement.
Furthermore, foreign workers who come to Japan as technical intern trainees or specified skilled workers will be able to bring their families to Japan if they eventually obtain the qualification of a care worker and work with the residence status of “nursing care.” Being able to live in Japan with your family will also lead to improved mental security and motivation for workers.
5.Learning Japanese and experiencing different cultures
Another major benefit for workers in Asian countries is that they can improve their Japanese language skills through working in Japan. In Japanese nursing care settings, communication with users and their families is important, and Japanese language skills are required. Learning Japanese will not only improve your communication skills in daily life and work, but will also be beneficial for your future career. If you are fluent in Japanese, a wide range of possibilities will open up for you, such as changing to other jobs in Japan or finding employment with a Japanese company in your home country.
Also, experiencing a different culture through living in Japan is a valuable experience for workers from Asian countries. By experiencing Japanese social norms, business etiquette, and working environments, you can learn about different values and working styles. Such experiences will not only be useful for your career after returning home, but will also help you broaden your international perspective by deepening your understanding of different cultures.
6.Long-term stability and future potential
The Japanese government is actively promoting the acceptance of foreign workers in order to address the shortage of nursing care workers due to the aging of the population. By utilizing the Specified Skilled Worker System and the Technical Intern Training System, workers from Asian countries can work in Japan for long periods of time and build a stable livelihood base. By aiming to obtain the “Nursing Care” residence status, you will be able to work and live in Japan for the long term, allowing you to look towards a more stable future.
In addition, it is possible to utilize the experience gained in Japan to start a nursing care business or conduct education and training activities related to nursing care in the future. For example, we have seen cases of people bringing back their nursing care experience from Vietnam and establishing nursing care facilities locally or starting companies that provide Japanese-style nursing care training.
Summary
As mentioned above, obtaining a residence status and working as a care worker in Japan not only has economic benefits for workers in Asian countries, but also provides opportunities for career advancement, acquisition of specialized skills, and improvement of Japanese language skills. There are many benefits, such as access to the social security system, and cross-cultural experiences. These experiences are extremely useful for career development and improving the lives of families after returning home, making nursing care work in Japan a very attractive option for workers in Asian countries.
This article is available in Japanese.