First, we introduce subsidies that can also be applied for in connection with foreign nationals.

About the Employment Adjustment Subsidy

○ Expansion of subsidy coverage to leave for workers who are not covered by employment insurance, such as part-time workers

○ Increase in the maximum amount and subsidy rate for leave, etc. (maximum amount up to 15,000 yen; subsidy rate up to 100%)

○ Eligible: Business owners affected by the infectious disease (including foreign nationals such as mid- to long-term residents, and those who employ foreign nationals)

About the Work-Life Balance Support Subsidy

○ Special paid leave systems and work-life balance support systems have been introduced for workers who need to care for children because elementary schools and similar facilities are temporarily closed. For example, business owners who have had a worker take four or more hours of special paid leave can apply for a subsidy of 50,000 yen per worker, up to 10 workers per business owner (maximum 500,000 yen).

○ Eligible are business owners that have established special paid leave available to workers caring for children attending elementary schools or similar facilities that temporarily closed in response to COVID-19, have introduced and communicated internally a work-life balance support framework that allows work to continue even when elementary schools or similar facilities are temporarily closed, and have had each worker take four or more hours of special paid leave

※ The leave system must be separate from statutory annual paid leave

About Subsidies Available Only to Nursing Care Facilities

○ For small and medium-sized enterprise business owners that establish a paid leave system for caregiving, thoroughly communicate the content of work–caregiving balance support systems internally, and have workers take a total of five or more days of the applicable leave, a subsidy is paid of 200,000 yen per worker when total leave days taken are five or more but fewer than 10, or 350,000 yen when total leave days taken are 10 or more.

※ Paid for up to five workers per small and medium-sized enterprise business owner

○ Eligible: Small and medium-sized enterprise business owners that establish a paid leave system for caregiving usable in response to COVID-19, communicate the content of work–caregiving balance support systems including that system internally, and have workers take that leave ※ The system must allow at least 20 prescribed working days to be taken ※ The leave system must be separate from statutory family care leave, caregiving leave, and annual paid leave

Visas for Hiring Foreign Nationals Who Have Lost Their Jobs in Japan

At present, a Designated Activities visa for employment maintenance support is being issued for foreign nationals who, due to the impact of COVID-19—such as deterioration in the business condition of their accepting organization or intended accepting organization (bankruptcy, workforce reductions, non-renewal of employment, cancellation of job offers, etc.)—are unable through no fault of their own to continue activities at that organization and find it difficult to remain in Japan under their current status of residence.

With this visa, a certain degree of job change becomes possible even for those who have completed Technical Intern Training, among others.

※ Job changes are made on the premise of aiming for Specified Skilled Worker status.

Visa Application Procedure

First, look for a job using a nearby Hello Work office or an employment placement agency.

Companies that are recruiting may also be able to have openings posted by contacting placement agencies familiar with foreign visas and related matters.

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan is also currently matching foreign nationals seeking jobs with employers that are recruiting, so making effective use of this as well is recommended.

Matching support centers on former technical intern trainees and Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals for whom continuation of Technical Intern Training has become difficult due to business hardship at the accepting company and similar circumstances, but it also covers foreign nationals who originally held statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services or Skilled Labor and lost their jobs due to non-renewal of employment or similar impacts, as well as those whose job offers were cancelled and international students who have completed their prescribed programs.

In addition, foreign nationals for whom securing a return flight or travel is difficult because airports for return are closed due to the spread of COVID-19, or because of movement restrictions within or across prefectures, are also currently covered.

Visas That Can Be Obtained

Employment at the designated accepting company is possible for up to one year. Depending on the COVID-19 situation, the period may also be extended within a range of six months.

The purpose of this visa is to acquire the skills needed for the work required to become a Specified Skilled Worker foreign national, and employment at any organization other than the accepting company named in the application is not permitted.

In addition, the following requirements must also be confirmed in order to apply for this visa.

〇 The amount of remuneration for Japanese nationals engaged in the same work that the foreign national seeking the visa will perform under this special measure must be equal to or greater than the foreign national’s remuneration

〇 The foreign national seeking the visa must wish to acquire at the accepting company the skills and other competencies needed to become a Specified Skilled Worker foreign national

〇 Limited to the three manufacturing fields (materials industry field, industrial machinery manufacturing field, and electrical and electronic information-related industry field), foreign nationals seeking the visa are limited to those who were dismissed in Japan while working or training in a covered job category (occupation) in each manufacturing field.

〇 The accepting company must wish to employ the applicant after fully understanding that the foreign national seeking the visa wishes to acquire the skills needed for the work required to become a Specified Skilled Worker

〇 It must be expected that the accepting company will properly accept foreign nationals who work under permission for this visa

The accepting company must fall under one of the following.

・ A track record of employing foreign residents (not limited to work statuses; including those with permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted)

・ Officers or employees responsible for employment management of foreign nationals at the accepting company have prior experience in employment management of foreign residents, or the accepting company accepts foreign nationals under appropriate guidance and advice from an organization that can properly manage or support the acceptance of foreign nationals (a supervising organization or Registered Support Organization), compliance with immigration and labor-related laws and regulations, etc.

〇 It must be expected that the accepting company will secure personnel to provide guidance and advice to foreign nationals on acquiring the skills and other competencies needed to become Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals, and to provide support related to daily life during their stay (including informing them of consultation contacts at relevant administrative agencies and accompanying them to those agencies as needed), and will carry these out appropriately.

As a point to keep in mind, required support may, for example, also be outsourced to the supervising organization with which the foreign national employed by the accepting company was previously affiliated before starting work, or to the Registered Support Organization to which support is planned to be entrusted upon transition to Specified Skilled Worker status.

〇 The accepting organization must promptly report to the regional immigration services bureau if it becomes difficult to accept the applicant

About Other Visas

At present, a Designated Activities (work not permitted) visa is being issued for foreign nationals who are simply unable to find employment.

As the name indicates, a Designated Activities (work not permitted) visa does not allow full-time employment, but in exchange it allows work of up to 28 hours per week in any occupation other than the adult entertainment industry.

For example, a foreign national who has completed Technical Intern Training may work part-time at a convenience store within 28 hours per week.

If you simply cannot find a company where you can work full-time toward Specified Skilled Worker status, we recommend first switching to this visa, as it can broaden the range of companies where work is possible to nearly the same extent as for Japanese nationals.

In addition, for this Designated Activities (work not permitted) visa, there is no need to file a new visa application when changing part-time employers, and even holding multiple part-time jobs is possible.