Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Considers Easing Restrictions on Foreign Workers in Home Care Services

In response to the severe shortage of caregivers, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has proposed easing restrictions on foreign workers in home care services. This plan would allow technical intern trainees and foreign workers with specified skills to work in this sector, provided they meet certain conditions. One key requirement is the completion of initial caregiver training. Implementation is expected as early as the 2025 fiscal year.

Currently, only those with a “Care Worker” residence status, holding a certified care worker qualification, and those who arrived under Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) as EPA care workers are allowed to engage in home care services. During the meeting on the 19th, the proposal was approved to permit technical intern trainees, foreign workers with specified skills, and EPA care worker candidates aiming to acquire care worker qualifications to work in home care services, provided they complete the initial caregiver training.

As of May 2023, the number of foreign workers engaged in care services by residence status is as follows:

Specified Skills: 31,453
Technical Intern Training: 15,909
Care Worker Residence Status: 9,328
EPA Special Activities: 3,104
Among these, only around 700 certified care workers with the required qualifications were allowed to work in home care.

Under this new policy, foreign workers who have completed training in caregiving techniques and have learned about Japanese lifestyle and communication methods will be eligible to work in home care. Additionally, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will conduct regular visits to ensure the proper education of these workers and establish consultation services to address any harassment issues.

The Ministry plans to gather public opinions through a public comment process and aims to launch the new services as early as the next fiscal year.