Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能)

Japan has been experiencing a chronic labour shortage for some time, and the issue is especially prominent in certain fields,  now designated as “16 specific industries”, leading the Japanese government  to finally open the door for foreign workers to engage in blue collar jobs. Consequently, the the new status of residence “Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能)” was established in 2019 to tackle the labour shortage and improve productivity to sustain the economy in Japan.
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 The Specified Industrial Fields (16 Fields)
(1) Nursing care
(2) Building cleaning management
(3) Manufacture of Industrial Products
(4) Construction
(5) Automobile Repair and Maintenance
(6) Food service industry
(7) Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry
(8) Automobile maintenance
(9) Aviation Industry
(10) Accommodation Industry
(11) Agriculture
(12) Fishery and Aquacultural Industries
(13) Food and beverages manufacturing industry
(14) Railway
(15) Forestry 
(16) Wood Industry

Who can be granted the visa?
Anyone who is healthy enough to work and aged 18 or above with a basic ability to use the Japanese language and the skill set required in each industry. This can be proven by passing a JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic  a completion of a technical training programme (level 2 or 3) in Japan.
 
Who can employ SSW foreign nationals?
In order to employ Specified Skilled Workers, employers have to comply with not only the immigration law but also the labour law and social insurance law and regulations.
This means that the employers must treat any employees fairly humanely. It may sound obvious but more than a few companies take advantage of loopholes to reduce the cost of employment such as their share of pension contribution payment and national health insurance scheme payment.
The employers also must support specified skilled workers in various aspects of their day-to-day living such as accompanying public offices to take all the necessary procedures as a resident and provide a helping hand for troubles the workers may experience.
 
What’s the downside?
As of March 2022, you cannot bring family as dependents during your stay in Japan as Specified Skill Worker (unless you are SSW(ii)).
As of March 2022, a specified skilled workers can stay in Japan up to 5 years unless you move onto SSW (ii). This restriction, however, is now under review and an indefinite stay may be permitted in the future.
 
What now?
The government is actively reviewing the scheme and various changes have been announced in recent months. We believe the scheme is a game changer for the Japanese economy and employment market which drive the whole society more multi-cultural and diverse.