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- Explanation of the key points of Specified Skills System
- What is the "life orientation" conducted when hiring specified skilled workers?
- Home
- JAC Magazine
- Explanation of the key points of Specified Skills System
- What is the "life orientation" conducted when hiring specified skilled workers?
What is the "life orientation" conducted when hiring specified skilled workers?
Hello, this is Kano from JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources).
"Life orientation" is conducted to ensure that specified skilled workers do not have any difficulties living in Japan.
Since life orientation is necessary to enable foreigners to live and work in Japan with peace of mind, it is mandatory for accepting companies to conduct it.
This time, we will explain this lifestyle orientation.
We will also discuss the purpose and content of the life orientation, the required time, and points to note, so please use this as a reference.
What is the "life orientation" conducted when hiring specified skilled workers?
"Life orientation" refers to the provision by an accepting company to Specified Skilled Worker (i) of information necessary for living in Japan.
This is one of the items listed in Support Plan for Specified Skilled Worker (i), and its implementation is mandatory.
In addition, the mandatory support listed in item 10 above is not required for Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
* 10 mandatory support measures: Support measures that must be implemented for specified skilled workers, including life orientation
The life orientation is conducted after Specified Skilled Worker (i) enter the country, but it is also necessary if there is a change in residence status, such as changing from technical intern training to Specified Skills.
The purpose of life orientation is to familiarize foreigners with Japanese rules and manners.
The topics taught at life orientation cover a wide range, from how to shop and withdraw money from a bank, to laws such as road rules, and employment-related contracts and notifications.
The implementation of this orientation is mandatory because it helps workers understand life and culture in Japan, prevents potential problems, and enables them to continue working for a long time with peace of mind.
In addition, even voluntary support will be subject to an obligation to provide support if it is stated in the "Support Plan for Specified Skilled Worker (i)."
*Optional support: In addition to the support required during the life orientation, support that is desirable to implement if possible (e.g., accompanying a person when going through procedures at a government agency, additional support during regular interviews, etc.)
The training will be conducted in person, online or via recorded video.
In principle, the implementer is the receiving company, but any registered support organization that has concluded a support outsourcing contract can be entrusted with conducting the life orientation.
What is the content of the life orientation provided to specified skilled workers?
The content of the life orientation covers a wide range of topics, from detailed rules of life to laws.
There are many items on offer and they vary in content.
We will introduce one example, so please use it as a reference.
| item | Specific items | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Contents related to life in Japan in general | How to use financial institutions |
|
| How to use medical facilities |
|
|
| Traffic Rules |
|
|
| How to use public transport |
|
|
| Living Rules and Manners |
|
|
| How to buy daily necessities |
|
|
| How to obtain weather information and disaster information |
|
|
| Examples of illegal activities in Japan |
|
|
| Procedures with national and local governments | Notification regarding affiliated institutions, etc. |
|
| Notification of residence |
|
|
| Social Security and Tax Procedures |
|
|
| Other administrative procedures |
|
|
| Contact for enquiries and complaints | Contact details of the person in charge of handling enquiries and complaints |
|
| Contact details of national and local government agencies where you can make inquiries or complaints |
|
|
| Medical content |
|
|
| Disaster prevention, crime prevention, and how to respond in the event of sudden illness |
|
|
| Legal protection |
|
|
The information listed above is merely an example, and the information required will vary depending on the host company and living area.
It is necessary to provide information tailored to the case of each Specified Skilled Worker (i).
How many hours of life orientation should be provided to specified skilled workers?
It is considered necessary that the life orientation provided to Specified Skilled Worker (i) should last at least eight hours.
Please note that if the time is less than 8 hours, you may not be allowed to take part in the life orientation.
Lifestyle orientation is also required to be provided to foreigners who are accustomed to life in Japan.
If the orientation is less than four hours long, it may be determined that the life orientation has not been properly conducted. The Immigration Services Agency's "Operational Guidelines for Supporting Specified Skilled Worker (i)" states the following:
Even in cases where those who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or international students continue to be employed as specified skilled workers at the same institution, it is necessary to ensure that they fully understand the necessary information, such as the contact details of the person who will handle inquiries or complaints, the matters necessary for responding in an emergency, and the matters necessary for the legal protection of foreign nationals.
In addition, even if such a person has no changes in their living environment, if the amount of time spent there is less than four hours, it cannot be said that life orientation has been properly provided.
Source: Immigration Services Agency "Operational Guidelines for Supporting Specified Skilled Worker (i) "
Points to note when conducting life orientation for specified skilled workers
The purpose of the life orientation for Specified Skilled Worker (i) specified skilled workers to ensure that they do not have any difficulties living in Japan, so it is important that they fully understand the situation.
Please be sure to pay attention to the following points when doing this.
Establish a support system that can be easily understood and responded to in one's native language
The life orientation will be conducted in a language that you can fully understand.
In addition to specified skilled workers 's native language, Japanese is also acceptable as long as the foreign national can fully understand it.
Although it is assumed that Specified Skilled Worker (i) have a certain level of Japanese language proficiency, it is entirely possible that they will not understand words that they are not familiar with.
You should take measures such as creating materials in the native language of specified skilled workers you employ, sharing information websites that provide information in the native language, and considering arranging for an interpreter if necessary.
It is also necessary to prepare in advance so that explanations are simple and easy to understand.
In addition, while the lifestyle orientation can be conducted online or through video viewing, it is important to be prepared to answer questions at any time and ensure that any doubts are resolved.
Detailed support is also required, such as accompanying the person through procedures if necessary.
Keep your confirmation of your life orientation
After completing the Lifestyle Orientation, you will be required to sign and keep a copy of the Lifestyle Orientation Confirmation Form.
Previously, submission was required, but as of March 31 2022, submission is no longer required (must be kept). If support has been entrusted to the accepting company or a registered support organization, the registered support organization will keep the documents.
The confirmation form for the life orientation is provided by the Immigration Services Agency.
There are also examples of entries, so please check them out.
In addition to the life orientation, there are various rules that need to be understood when accepting specified skilled workers in Japan.
For example, there is a health checkup that is carried out once a year, but some foreigners refuse to take it because they "don't want to have a blood test."
In that case, you will need to carefully explain to them that in Japan, health checks are mandatory once a year for health management, and that the costs will be borne by the host company.
If you are in the construction industry and are considering accepting foreign workers, please also read this column.
Explaining how to accept foreign workers in the construction industry and the preparations to do so!
Summary: In principle, Specified Skilled Worker (i) are required to undergo at least 8 hours of life orientation!
In order to ensure that Specified Skilled Worker (i) do not have any difficulties adjusting to life in Japan, it is mandatory to hold a "life orientation" session to provide them with information on the rules and laws of life in Japan.
The training can be conducted in person, online or by video, but it is considered necessary for it to last at least eight hours.
It is also important to have a system in place that can speak the language required to ensure sufficient understanding, and a support system that can answer questions.
Depending on the content of the life orientation, you may be required to accompany and teach.
Please also remember that after completing the life orientation, you will be required to fill out a "Life Orientation Confirmation Form" in the prescribed format and that the host company must keep it on file.
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 December 2023.
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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