By Analou De Vera
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released the guidelines on the deployment of Filipino workers to Japan under the status of residence of "specified skilled worker."
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has signed the Department Order No. 201 Series of 2019 last March 22, pursuant to the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) that was recently signed by Bello and Japanese Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita in Tokyo, Japan.
To note, the MOC is geared towards ensuring secure recruitment and employment of skilled workers between the two nations.
The DOLE noted that the qualifications for Specified Skilled Worker who is allowed to work in Japan for a maximum of five years are as follows:
• The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
• It must be proven through an examination or other evaluation method that the applicant possesses skills requiring considerable knowledge or experience necessary for the work which the applicant intends to engage in.
• It must be proven through an examination or other evaluation method that the applicant possesses the Japanese language proficiency necessary for living in Japan as well as the language proficiency necessary for the work which the applicants intends to engage in.
• The applicant must possess a passport valid for at least six months prior to the intended date of departure.
Meanwhile, qualifications for Specified Skilled Worker who is allowed to work in Japan indefinitely based on renewal of their employment contract and extension of period of stay are as follows:
• The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
• It must be proven through an examination or other evaluation method that the applicant possesses the proficient skills necessary for the work which the applicant intends to engage in.
• The applicant must possess a passport valid for at least six months prior to the intended date of departure.
Fees and charges
The labor department noted that "no fee of any kind or form shall be collected, directly or indirectly, from the specified skilled worker for their selection and deployment to Japan."
Also, there will be no deductions to be made on the worker's allowances/wages for any purpose except for host country prescribed allowable deductions such as tax.
"The fees and costs chargeable to the specified skilled worker, sending organization, and accepting organization shall be in accordance with the appropriate provisions under Rule V of the Revised POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers of 2016," the DOLE added.