Thursday, March 27, 2008 Japan opens new door for health workers
FILIPINO health workers will soon have a chance to work in Japan and earn as much as what those working in hospitals in the United States do.
The Japanese-Filipino Caregiver Project, which is a first of its kind here in the country, will pave the way for Filipino nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and caregivers to work in Japan.
The program was initiated by Japanese companies Konoike Transport Co. Ltd and the Jukenzai Group to help address Japan’s shortage of nurses and caregivers for its aging population.
The Jukenzai Group is one of the largest medical corporations in Japan with over 3,000 hospital beds specializing in medical care, nursing care and caregiving for the elderly.
The Konoike Group, the Konoike Medical is into the sterilizing business and the supply of hospital equipment and logistics, catering to more than 500 hospitals in Japan.
In his speech during the welcome dinner Tuesday, Hiroshi Akaki, chairman of the Juzenkai Medical Group, said that he wished for the people of Cebu and the Filipinos, in general, “to help and join their mission of supporting the Japanese aging society by providing the best medical treatment and care.”
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, in his speech, said that the development is a significant step towards Filipino-Japan cooperation and that the City will be ready to help in the program.
Number 1
The mayor also gave the Japanese guests a “key” to the city to signify his favorable reception of the Japanese party.
For his part, Tadahiko Konoike, the president of Konoike Group, said he is sure that they will become the number one company hiring Filipinos for Japan.
Partner
Since 1996, his company has hired “excellent” Filipino manpower and they now have about 110 Filipinos in its workforce.
The two companies have partnered with and tapped Cebu Doctors’ University to train future health workers for deployment to Japan.
However Jun Shinozawa, the Japanese group’s project manager, admitted that they are currently in “a very sensitive situation” considering that the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) is yet to be ratified.
Legally
Joel Yu, managing director for Cebu Investment Promotions Center said that even when the Jpepa is not yet ratified, the project can go on since once the agreement is signed, it will legally allow Filipino health workers to work in Japan.
In the meantime, efforts should be focused on training Cebuanos to make them “operationally qualified” to work in Japan.
Shinozawa also agreed that as soon as the Jpepa is approved, they will be able to give priority to health workers from Cebu, especially those who have graduated from CDU’s Japanese caregiver course.
Course
In its pilot program, CDU will offer a crash course on Japanese care-giving based on a curriculum outlined by the Japanese group.
However, until the Jpepa is signed, the program will first focus on Japinos or those of Filipino and Japanese descent.
“Eventually, when Jpepa is ratified, we will have to do this with the Filipinos,” CDU president Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal Jr. said.
Shinozawa said that a pre-screening process was already conducted for Japinos who wish to work in Japan.
He said that they sought the assistance of the New Nikkei Association, a Cebu-based support group for Japinos. The group filed the legal support needed for the Japinos’ application.
The Japino applicants, aged 16 to 40 years old, were also interviewed so their Japanese lineage could be traced.
Those who passed the screening and background check were granted Japanese visas, making them legal residents of Japan.
Out of over 100 applicants, only 10 were selected to join the initial course, which will run for two to three months, but there will be another batch coming in.
Larrazabal said the courses they are offering detail specific Japanese practices and culture in caregiving.
Language
The equipment used in Japan for elderly care was also provided so that the students can use them during the practical training.
Aside from the course, the students learned Nippongo on a daily basis since health workers in Japan needed to be competent in conversational, level two Nippongo.
Larrazabal also said that they have talked to the Filipino health workers in Japan--most of whom married Japanese citizens to gain residency—and found out that they did not experience problems in adjusting to the culture of Japan. (DME)
