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- Explanation of the key points of Specified Skills System
- What is Specified Skilled Worker (ii)? What is the difference with No. 1 and how to obtain it?
- Home
- JAC Magazine
- Explanation of the key points of Specified Skills System
- What is Specified Skilled Worker (ii)? What is the difference with No. 1 and how to obtain it?
What is Specified Skilled Worker (ii)? What is the difference with No. 1 and how to obtain it?
Hello, this is Kano from JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources).
Many companies currently employing Specified Skilled Worker (i) nationals would like them to stay for as long as possible.
Since Specified Skills visa is a relatively new type of residence status, there are very few foreigners who have acquired Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
So, this time we will introduce the difference between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii), and how to obtain Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
What is Specified Skilled Worker (ii)? Check out Specified Skills System
In order to solve the labor shortage at construction sites, the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act was amended at the extraordinary session of the Diet in 2018, and a new status of residence called "Specified Skills" was created.
Specified Skills is a system that accepts foreigners not only at construction sites but also in specific industrial fields where labor shortages are serious.
Specified Skills accepts foreigners with the same treatment as Japan people.
In the past, those who had returned to their home countries after completing the training can now be called back and accepted directly.
Specified Skills has two types: Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
As of May 2024, the following 16 fields are available for Specified Skilled Worker (i).
- nursing care
- Building Cleaning
- Industrial product manufacturing industry (formerly: Basic materials, industrial machinery, and electrical, electronic, and information-related manufacturing industry)
- Automobile Maintenance
- Aviation
- stay
- Agriculture
- Fisheries
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- Foodservice
- construction
- Shipbuilding and Marine Industry
- Automobile transport industry
- Railway
- forestry
- Timber Industry
Of these, 11 fields are accepted by Specified Skilled Worker (ii), excluding nursing care, motor transportation, railways, forestry and timber industries.
Previously, Specified Skilled Worker (ii) only covered welding segments in the construction and shipbuilding and marine industries.
However, the scope of the Cabinet decision in 2023 has been expanded.
As of 2023, it is possible to accept Specified Skilled Worker (ii) in all industrial sectors except the nursing care field.
The four fields of "automobile transportation," "railway," "forestry," and "timber industry" will be newly added by the Cabinet decision in March 2024, and will be accepted from Specified Skilled Worker (i) first.
Therefore, as of May 2024, we will not be able to accept Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
In addition, according to the Cabinet decision in March 2024, new jobs have been added in the "industrial product manufacturing field," "shipbuilding and marine manufacturing industry," and "food and beverage manufacturing field," but as of May 2024, Specified Skilled Worker (ii) will not accept additional jobs in the "industrial product manufacturing field."
How is Specified Skilled Worker (ii) different from Specified Skilled Worker (i)?
What are the differences between Specified Skilled Worker (ii) and Specified Skilled Worker (i)?
We will compare the differences between Type 2 and Type 1 in terms of skill level, period of stay, and Japanese language proficiency.
| Specified Skilled Worker (ii) | Specified Skilled Worker (i) | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification Overview | For foreigners working in specific industrial fields who require skilled work | For foreigners who are engaged in work requiring a considerable degree of knowledge or experience in a specific industrial field |
| Period of stay | 3 years, renewable every year or every 6 months, no cap | Renewal every year, six months or four months, up to a total of five years |
| Skill Level | Check through exams etc. | Confirmation by examination, etc. (Foreigners who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) are exempt from examination, etc.) |
| Japanese language proficiency level | No need to check through tests etc. | Japanese language proficiency necessary for daily life and work will be verified through tests, etc. (Foreigners who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) will be exempt from tests, etc.) |
| Bringing family members along | Possible if certain conditions are met (spouse, children) | Basically not acceptable |
| Support from host organizations or registered support organizations | Not applicable | subject |
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) "Skilled skills" are required to have acquired skilled skills from a long period of practical experience, etc., and to be able to lead and supervise workers in the field.
On the other hand, the "skills that require a considerable degree of knowledge or experience" in Specified Skilled Worker (i) are the level at which a certain level of work can be performed without special training.
The transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i) is also possible with a successful completion of Technical Intern Training (ii).
The difference between Specified Skills and technical intern training is explained in detail here, so please refer to it as well.
10 differences between Specified Skills and technical intern training. Know the advantages and precautions and consider it
Introducing the requirements and methods for obtaining Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
To obtain Specified Skilled Worker (ii), one must meet two requirements: 1) pass The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam or the Skill Test Level 1, and 2) gain a certain amount of practical experience as a supervisor or instructor.
The exam content and required work experience vary depending on the field.
For example, in the construction sector, “foreign nationals with skilled skills” can acquire Specified Skilled Worker (ii) by meeting the following two requirements.
- A certain amount of practical experience as a team leader (practical experience as a team leader who supervises multiple construction technicians while working on a construction site and manages the process)
- Pass The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry (implemented by JAC), which is equivalent to the level of the Skills Test Level 1, or obtain the Skills Test Level 1
By the way, the condition for Specified Skilled Worker (i) is to pass a test to confirm Japanese ability along with the Specified Skills measurement test, but in the case of Specified Skilled Worker (ii), it is not necessary to take the Japanese test to obtain a status of residence.
The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry (Implementing Entity: JAC) Please refer to the "The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry page" for the implementation status.
The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry Pages"
Summary: There are two requirements to acquire Specified Skilled Worker (ii) Know the differences with No. 1.
Specified Skills is a status of residence created with the aim of resolving the labor shortage in Japan.
There are two types of Specified Skills: Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
The difference between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and No. 2 is the level of skill required.
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) requires more advanced skills.
To obtain Specified Skilled Worker (ii), one must meet two requirements: 1) pass The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam or the Skill Test Level 1, and 2) gain a certain amount of practical experience as a supervisor or instructor.
If you are a company considering hiring specified skilled workers in the construction industry, please feel free to contact JAC!
We also introduce specified skilled workers.
*This article was written based on information from May 2024.
I wrote the article!
Japan Association for Construction Human Resources Manager, Management Department (and Research Department)
Motoko Kano
Cano Motoko
Born in Aichi Prefecture.
He is in charge of public relations, research and investigation, and is the person behind social media.
We update our social media accounts daily with the desire to make people fall in love with Japan, to spread the appeal of construction from Japan to the world, and to ensure that Japan's construction industry continues to be the industry of choice around the world.
He is also engaged in research into the feasibility of implementing skills evaluation exam in Asian countries, and is conducting interviews with local organizations in each country.
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