Explaining how to accept foreign workers into the construction industry and the preparations to do so!

How to attract foreign workers to the construction industry?

We will introduce the general process for accepting workers living abroad into a Japanese construction company.

Foreign workers can find job openings in Japan through job advertisements in media such as Japanese newspapers, magazines, and foreign language portal sites.

In addition, some recruitment service companies operating in Japan also have overseas operations, and in some cases you may be able to use their services.

A well-known public institution providing job hunting support is the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Employment Service for Foreigners.
We provide career consultation and job introduction services to international students seeking employment in Japan, as well as foreign workers in specialized and technical fields.

First, we recruit using such job search media, recruitment agencies, and public institutions.

If we receive an application from a foreign national and they proceed to the interview stage, we will check their residence status.
The required residence status varies depending on the type of work, so both the foreign worker and the accepting company need to thoroughly check in order to avoid illegal employment.

Once the residence status has been confirmed, a formal written employment contract is concluded and a "Notification of the Employment Status of Foreign Nationals" is submitted to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare at a Hello Work office or other such place.

After foreign workers enter the country, there are many situations in which they require support from the accepting company.
It would be a good idea to have someone help you with the procedures, such as securing housing, opening a bank account to receive your salary, registering as a resident at your city or ward office, and getting a mobile phone, as these can be complicated and difficult for foreigners.

Benefits of accepting foreign workers in the construction industry

The construction industry is facing a serious labor shortage, especially among the younger generation.

By enlisting the help of young, physically active foreign workers in their 20s and 30s, it may be possible to alleviate the labor shortage and improve work efficiency.

In addition, accepting foreign workers requires careful manual creation and training, so this also serves as part of in-house training.

There are also cases where this has led to companies expanding overseas, and where hearing opinions from an overseas perspective has sparked new ideas.

Required residence status and available types of work when hiring foreigners in the construction industry

The required status of residence varies depending on the type of work.
Even within a single industry, there are residence statuses that may be restricted depending on the work you do, so be sure to check.

We will introduce you to the residence statuses that allow you to work in the construction industry.

Technical internship

Technical internships are limited to foreigners from developing countries.
The aim of this is to contribute to the international community by having people in developing countries acquire knowledge and skills from Japan, which they can then take back to their home countries and develop into human resources who will lead the economic development of their countries.

There are two types of technical intern training: "independent company type" and "group supervision type."

• Individual company type: A Japanese company (trainee implementing organization) accepts employees from overseas local subsidiaries or business partners to carry out technical intern training.
• Organization-supervised type: Non-profit organizations such as chambers of commerce accept technical intern trainees and provide them with training at the implementing companies.

The classification of the technical intern training program and the status of residence differ depending on the acceptance method (individual enterprise type or supervised organization type).

	First year in Japan (Acquisition of skills, etc.)	2nd-3rd year after entering Japan (Familiarization with skills, etc.)	4th to 5th year after entering Japan (Proficiency in skills, etc.)
Single company type	No. 1 Company-specific Technical Intern Training (Visa status "Technical Intern Training No. 1")	Type 2 Company-specific Technical Intern Training (Visa status "Technical Intern Training No. 2")	Type 3 Company-specific Technical Intern Training (Visa status "Technical Intern Training No. 3 (a)")
Group supervision type	Type 1 Group Supervised Technical Intern Training (Status of residence "Technical Intern Training No. 1")	Type 2 Group Supervised Technical Intern Training (Status of residence "Technical Intern Training No. 2")	Type 3 Group Supervised Technical Intern Training (Status of residence "Technical Intern Training No. 3 B")

During your technical internship, you will not be allowed to engage in simple labor.

As of February 2023, there are 22 job types and 33 industries in which construction-related work can be done.
Examples of work include scaffolding, carpentry, formwork construction, stone processing, and rebar assembly.

For information on the work that technical intern trainees can do, please see "What is the Technical Intern Training Program for Foreigners? 3. Construction-related" by the Japan International Skilled Worker Cooperation Agency (JISS).

In addition, there is a limit to the period during which technical intern trainees can work, with trainees allowed to stay for one year under Technical Intern Training No. 1, two years under Technical Intern Training (ii), and two years under Technical Intern Training No. 3.

If you pass the exam and everything goes smoothly, you will be able to carry out your technical training for up to five years.

However, only companies that have been certified as excellent training providers are able to transition to or accept technical intern trainee No. 3.
To be certified, you must submit a "Declaration of Compliance with Excellent Requirements" to the Japan Technical Intern Training Organization and undergo an examination to see if you have passed the skills test, have any disappearances, or have a support system in place, and meet certain requirements.

Skills

The "Skilled" residence status allows you to engage in activities that require skilled work in a specific industrial field.

You will also need to have foreign-specific architectural or civil engineering skills and 5 to 10 years of work experience.

Architectural or civil engineering skills unique to a foreign country are skills that do not exist in Japan.
Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, Chinese, Korean, and other architectural and civil engineering skills,
Examples include frame wall construction and direct attachment construction using imported stone materials.

The period of stay can be five years, three years, one year, or three months, and is determined by the Immigration Bureau of Japan based on the applicant's desired period of stay, as well as the size and business situation of the employer.

Status or position-based status

There are four types of residence status based on status or position: "Spouse or Child of a Japanese National," "Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident," "Permanent Resident," and "Long-Term Resident."
This is a status of residence for those who are not originally staying in Japan for the purpose of working, but are staying in Japan for a long period of time due to marriage or other reasons.

There is no time limit for employment, and you can also engage in simple tasks.

Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted by status of residence

Those with a "student" or "family stay" status, which normally prohibits them from working, can apply for this visa and work up to 28 hours per week (up to 8 hours per day during long vacation periods for educational institutions).
You can also do simple tasks.

Specified Skills

In order to secure human resources for the construction industry, the "Specified Skills" residence status is designed to accept foreign nationals who have a certain level of expertise and skills and can immediately contribute to the industry.

After successfully completing Technical Intern Training (ii), you can also switch to Specified Skills.

There are two types of Specified Skills: "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" and "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)" However, as of February 2023, Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is only granted in two fields: construction and shipbuilding/shipbuilding industry.
*Added in May 2024: Of the 16 industries, the fields in which workers can be accepted under Specified Skilled Worker (ii) have been reduced to 11, excluding nursing care, automobile transportation, railways, forestry, and the lumber industry.

Unlike technical training, there are no restrictions on the nationalities of those eligible.

The total period of stay for Specified Skilled Worker (i) is limited to a maximum of five years.

For more information about Specified Skills, please see "What are Specified Skills? A detailed explanation of the process for accepting foreign nationals and the support organizations."

Preparing to accept foreigners into the construction industry

Advance preparation is essential when accepting foreign workers into the construction industry.

In particular, be sure to thoroughly check your residence status.
Even if your residence status allows you to work, there are cases where you cannot work in the construction industry, or you cannot perform simple tasks in the construction industry.

If an illegal worker is employed, both the worker and the employer will be held liable.
In some cases, you may need to take steps such as contacting the Immigration Bureau.

Also, when hiring a foreigner, you are required to submit a "Notification of Foreign Employment Status" to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, and if you fail to do so, you will be fined 300,000 yen per person, so be careful.

Improving the working environment is also important when accepting foreigners into the construction industry

When accepting foreign workers into the construction industry, it is important to improve both the soft and hard working environment.

Examples of soft-side improvements include understanding in the workplace.
In order for foreigners to work smoothly in Japan, the understanding of Japanese employees working on-site is essential.
It is necessary to ensure that they fully understand the significance of employing foreign workers and that they also gain understanding of religions and different cultures.

In particular, religious issues require careful consideration.
For information on religious beliefs that you should be aware of when accepting foreigners and measures to prevent problems, please see "Be aware of religious issues and considerations when accepting foreign workers."
Please take a look.

The next step in terms of hardware improvements is to create a safe working environment.
There are many dangerous jobs in the construction industry, so it is important to create an environment where everyone can work safely.

The construction industry is also taking steps to ensure that foreign workers can work in Japan with peace of mind.
One of the most well-known of these is the "Declaration for the Safe and Secure Acceptance specified skilled workers in the Construction Sector" made by the Japan Federation of Construction Contractors.

The Safe and Secure Acceptance Declaration aims to create construction sites where highly skilled foreign workers can work safely and securely.
We will take the following steps from three perspectives: "Eliminating illegal employment," "Ensuring safety on-site," and "Reliable treatment."

[Elimination of illegal employment]

• Confirmation of acceptance plan certification
• CCUS (Construction Career Up System) site registration, technician registration, and business registration confirmation
• Confirmation of time correction of CCUS (Construction Career Up System) registration information
• On-site identity verification

[Ensuring safety at the site]

• Regular Japanese language education and safety training
• Thorough instructions on-site
• Adoption of safety signs that are easy for foreigners to understand

[Reassuring treatment]

• Fair wages and social insurance
• Response when receiving a consultation
• Actions taken against violating companies
• Elimination of discriminatory acts

*Reference: Declaration for the safe and secure acceptance specified skilled workers in the construction industry (Japan Federation of Construction Contractors)

The environment that foreign workers find easy to work in is the same for Japanese workers.
Let's aim to create a safe and secure working environment for all people involved in the construction industry.

Summary: Preparation and consideration are required when accepting foreigners into the construction industry! Pay attention to residence status too

Foreign workers find work in Japan through job advertisements in newspapers and other media, as well as through recruitment services, so make use of such services when recruiting and hiring.

Companies must thoroughly check the type of residence status and the type of work that the applicant can do before proceeding with an employment contract.

Please be aware that some residence statuses restrict the scope of work you can do, and some do not even allow you to work.
If an illegal worker is hired, not only the worker but also the company that hired him/her will be subject to punishment.

When accepting foreign workers, we prepare both soft and hard facilities to create an environment that is easy for them to work in.
Creating an environment where people can work with peace of mind will also be beneficial for Japanese employees.

If you are a company considering hiring specified skilled workers in the construction industry, please feel free to contact JAC!

*This column was written based on information from May 2024.