More than 200 Filipino nurses and care workers have been deployed to Japan this week.
According to the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, a total of 213 care workers and 18 nurses left for Japan on July 13 to 15 for their employment in hospitals and caregiving institutions.
They form the 14th batch of Filipino nurse and certified care worker candidates under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
They were hired through the government-to-government arrangement implemented by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS).
Prior to their departure, the local healthcare workers underwent a six-month preparatory Japanese language training in the Philippines which concluded in May. In Japan, they will also take another six months of more intensive Japanese language training.
Both language training programs are free of charge in addition to the daily living allowances provided to the candidates for the duration of their training.
Since 2009, a total of 3,378 Filipino nurses and certified care worker candidates have been hired under the program.
The Japanese Embassy said details of future recruitment will be posted on POEA's or Department of Migrant Workers' website once the hiring period for the year begins.