This support initiative applies to foreign employees as a whole. As with Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals, for whom many support duties are already mandatory, more companies are expected to focus on support for foreign workers going forward.

In this article, drawing on the Seven & i Holdings case, we introduce recommended support measures for the long-term employment of Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals.

Support for foreign employees announced by Seven & i Holdings

Seven & i Holdings announced that it will begin initiatives to support the daily lives and career planning of foreign nationals working at its participating convenience stores.

About 37,000 foreign employees, mainly international students, are currently working there. With the number of international students declining due to COVID-19 and hiring of international talent for Seven-Eleven expected to become more difficult going forward, the company will launch various support measures especially to raise retention among foreign employees on whom it currently relies heavily.

Problems foreign employees face include higher hurdles than for Japanese nationals when signing apartment leases or opening new credit cards.

Against that backdrop, Seven-Eleven will create a database of foreign employee information, registering nationality, passport numbers, schools attended as international students, employment status at Seven-Eleven, and similar details, and share that information with financial institutions and real estate companies to underwrite credit and help procedures proceed smoothly.

It also plans to support acquisition of skills useful for programming and future employment, and to begin career advancement support and other initiatives to retain foreign employees.

Support that should also be provided for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals

As shown in the Seven & i Holdings case already introduced, many companies are expected to begin initiatives to support international talent going forward.

The main reason is that, with Japan’s working-age population declining, dependence on foreign workers will only grow, and Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals can change jobs, so foreign workers will have more freedom to choose their employers.

As a result, companies that do not take support duties seriously are expected to find it difficult to hire and retain foreign workers.

Against that backdrop, this article highlights support duties that are mandatory for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals and what they involve.

Support that should be implemented for long-term employment of Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals

Under the Specified Skilled Worker system, which began in April 2019, free job changes are allowed, unlike for technical intern trainees.

Going forward, even capable Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals cannot be assumed to stay at the same company for five years; if a better employer is available, they are expected to change jobs.

Conversely, companies that implement support that attracts foreign workers may also be able to hire capable Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals.

Information about such companies is shared within foreign communities and their reputation spreads, so while costs may be involved, the result can be acquisition of capable talent. The importance of carrying out support duties thoroughly is therefore increasing.

This article introduces support duties considered especially important.

Important support that should be provided for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals

Below we introduce support duties considered highly beneficial when thinking about career advancement for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals.

〇 Provide information on enrollment at Japanese language classes and Japanese language education institutions, and, as needed, accompany the person and assist with enrollment procedures

Japanese language education is one form of support that offers many benefits for career advancement for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals, who can work in Japan for up to five years.

In some areas of Japan, volunteers run Japanese language classes for about 1,000 yen per month. Providing Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals with information on such opportunities can lead highly motivated learners to participate and potentially work on site both as operators and as interpreters.

〇 Provide information on Japanese language learning materials and online Japanese courses for self-study, and, as needed, assist with obtaining materials or completing contracts to use online courses

In some regions it may be hard to find a classroom for Japanese language study. Even then, online classes can be taken regardless of place or time, so providing information on environments where online classes can be taken is considered very important.

In addition, if the company raises pay or pays bonuses to those who pass Japanese language proficiency tests at a certain level, motivation for Japanese study will increase and more Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals are likely to begin learning.

〇 With the agreement of the Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign national, contract with a Japanese language instructor and provide opportunities for Japanese language lessons

This can be described as a high-difficulty form of support, but if it can be implemented it is also among the most effective ways to learn Japanese.

If an instructor who can provide Japanese language learning directly to Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals can be arranged, substantial results may be achieved in a short period.

However, contracting directly with a Japanese language instructor can involve high costs, so whether Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals can bear the expense and whether the company will subsidize it must be considered

when deciding whether to implement this support.

〇 As needed, provide information on opportunities for interaction with local residents organized by local governments or volunteer groups, introduce neighborhood associations and similar bodies, assist with procedures to participate in events, and, as needed, accompany participants and explain event rules and how activities are conducted

For Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals to live in Japan long term and settle into daily life, joining the community where they live is one highly effective approach.

It is difficult for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals to find and join communities on their own from the start, so Registered Support Organizations or accepting organizations need to assist with participation.

For example, joining irregular local volunteer activities such as litter cleanup can expand acquaintances among local Japanese residents and deepen local Japanese residents’ understanding of foreign nationals, among other benefits.

Building Japanese acquaintances in the community can also mean more people who can help in disasters or other times of need.

〇 As information needed to understand Japanese culture, provide guidance on events in the area where the person works or lives, and, as needed, accompany them and explain on site

Taking part in local fireworks festivals and other community events helps people become familiar with Japanese culture and find regular sources of enjoyment while living in Japan long term. Providing information on such events is therefore one form of support that Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals appreciate.

Conclusion

This article has focused on support duties considered highly effective for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals working in Japan.

Going forward, many companies are expected to implement various support measures to retain foreign workers, including Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals. We recommend considering substantive support so as not to fall behind that trend.