Acceptance of Specified Skilled Workers began in 2019, and as of the end of March 2021, more than approximately 22,000 foreign nationals were staying in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence.

When accepting Specified Skilled Workers, one thing you must know is “lifestyle orientation.”
This article explains lifestyle orientation, which cannot be avoided.

What Is the Mandatory Lifestyle Orientation After Accepting Specified Skilled Workers?

Lifestyle orientation is required to last at least eight hours. It must be conducted after employing a Specified Skilled Worker, and you are obligated to report that it was conducted to the immigration authority at the time of the first periodic report. The main purpose of lifestyle orientation is to explain relevant laws and rules for living in Japan in advance, while Specified Skilled Workers are still at the early stage of starting work, so they can manage daily life and work life without problems and prevent trouble during their stay.

When and by Whom Is Lifestyle Orientation Conducted?

Lifestyle orientation is mandatory after employment of a Specified Skilled Worker begins, and it is conducted for the Specified Skilled Worker.

The accepting organization that hires the Specified Skilled Worker conducts it. If the accepting organization does not have a system in place to conduct it, it can entrust the orientation to a Registered Support Organization. However, if it is entrusted to a Registered Support Organization, that organization becomes obligated to provide all mandatory support required when accepting Specified Skilled Workers, not only lifestyle orientation.

When the accepting organization conducts it, any items within lifestyle orientation that it cannot handle in-house are outsourced, and it conducts only the items it can handle itself.

Because lifestyle orientation takes a long time—eight hours—it is sometimes conducted over several days.
Also, although some content overlaps with pre-guidance already conducted, please explain it again after Specified Skilled Worker status begins, including for confirmation purposes.

Content That Must Be Covered in Lifestyle Orientation

  • Explanation of matters related to general living in Japan

For foreign nationals who move from technical intern trainee status to Specified Skilled Worker status, many of these points are likely already known, but the orientation is also conducted for confirmation.
In essence, this corresponds to content covered in post-entry training for technical intern trainees, such as “legal protection training” and “explanations on garbage disposal given by city hall instructors.”

  • Explanation of matters related to notifications and other procedures that must or should be performed with national or local government agencies under Article 19-16 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and other laws and regulations

You need to explain that when changing address, procedures for moving, moving out, and moving in must be completed at city hall; explain the universal health insurance system; and note that resident tax amounts vary by place of residence, and that even if income tax and resident tax exemptions applied during the technical intern training period, those measures no longer apply after becoming a Specified Skilled Worker. In particular, tax treaty exemptions must be explained at an early stage, or they can lead to later trouble—be sure to cover this.

  • Provision of contact information prepared by the accepting organization or the entrusted Registered Support Organization that Specified Skilled Workers need to know for consultations about daily life or when trouble arises, as well as contact information for national or local government agencies where such consultations or complaints should be filed

You need to confirm the contact details of the support staff who assist Specified Skilled Workers, contact details of counselors who can consult in the worker’s native language, methods of contact, and times when contact is possible.
Also, for matters that are difficult to discuss, you need to share information on foreign-language consultation desks set up by the national government and multilingual consultation desks at nearby city halls so workers can consult national agencies directly.

  • Explanation of matters related to medical institutions where care can be received in a language the Specified Skilled Worker can sufficiently understand
    When Specified Skilled Workers live in Japan, provide information not only for illness or injury but also for dentists and similar services. In principle, provide information on the nearest medical institutions around where the Specified Skilled Worker lives.

Also explain the out-of-pocket amount at the counter for the health insurance they enroll in. Additionally, although not mandatory, if a Specified Skilled Worker enrolls in Specified Skilled Worker insurance or similar products sold by various providers in addition to company health insurance, explain the scope of coverage and related details.

  • Explanation of matters related to disaster prevention and crime prevention, as well as matters necessary for responding to sudden illness and other emergencies

Explain information on protecting oneself during fires, earthquakes, and other disasters, as well as information on crimes common in Japan. So that workers can contact relevant agencies immediately in unexpected situations, explain ambulance and police phone numbers and information on past disasters in the area, and teach them how to respond quickly.

Also, many Specified Skilled Workers come from countries with no or few earthquakes, so even small quakes can startle them. Explain in advance the nearest evacuation sites and how to protect themselves so they can respond calmly even if they face a major earthquake.

Although not directly related to disaster prevention, many Specified Skilled Workers come from countries with higher smoking rates than Japan, so many of them smoke. Thoroughly explaining smoking rules and designated smoking areas is also necessary to prevent future trouble.

  • Explanation of how to respond when learning of a violation of laws and regulations related to immigration or labor, and other matters necessary for the worker’s legal protection

Although this overlaps with legal protection training content from the technical intern training period, you need to explain premium wages for overtime, variable working hour systems applied by some companies, paid leave systems, and similar topics. Also explain contact points where workers can consult if the company violates those laws.

Also, thoroughly explain immigration laws, which foreign nationals must be most careful about: that they may only work in the occupation for which permission was granted, and the rules on overstaying. In particular, foreign nationals staying or working in Japan must always carry their residence card; the card states their status of residence, and they cannot do work outside the status granted. Explain this thoroughly, and confirm together with the Specified Skilled Worker the conditions that lead to overstaying (for example, even after the period of stay expires, they may remain in Japan for a special period of two months while procedures for renewal or change of status of residence are pending).

Points to Note When Conducting Lifestyle Orientation

Lifestyle orientation may be conducted through oral explanation, using written materials as well, or by showing a video. Even when using a video, viewing must be set up so that if the Specified Skilled Worker has questions about the content, explanations can be given immediately.

Also, unlike pre-guidance, eight hours must be set aside, so it is advisable to discuss with the company the time required for lifestyle orientation and the location and date before starting Specified Skilled Worker procedures.

Summary

This article explained lifestyle orientation, which is mandatory for Specified Skilled Workers. Knowledge and experience of life and rules in Japan differ depending on the foreign national’s situation before becoming a Specified Skilled Worker. For example, those who move from technical intern trainee status already have experience in Japan compared with those who take exams in their home country and come to Japan for the first time as Specified Skilled Workers, so they understand a fair amount even without lifestyle orientation—but still conduct it properly, including for reconfirmation. Conduct lifestyle orientation properly so that all foreign nationals who become Specified Skilled Workers can work productively.