The new status of residence “Specified Skilled Worker” was established in April 2019.

This article explains the “council” that companies accepting Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals must join, focusing on the manufacturing field among the 14 Specified Skilled Worker industries.

What Is the Specified Skilled Worker Council?

A council is established for each of the 14 Specified Skilled Worker fields and is operated primarily by the competent ministry, with accepting organizations, Registered Support Organizations, and local governments also making up its membership.

The main purpose of the council is to strengthen coordination among its members and to enable businesses in each region to accept the Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals they need by sharing information on the system, promoting legal compliance, assessing regional labor shortages, and taking necessary action.

Companies that accept Specified Skilled Workers are required to join the council. Companies that have not joined or cannot join the council cannot employ Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals.

To employ a Specified Skilled Worker foreign national, two things are required: (1) obtaining permission for the “Specified Skilled Worker” status of residence from the immigration authority, and (2) the accepting company joining the “council.”

About the Manufacturing Field Council

Manufacturing industries eligible to accept Specified Skilled Workers are divided into three fields, and acceptance under Specified Skilled Worker must fall under one of those fields.
In addition, you must join the manufacturing field council before filing a Specified Skilled Worker application with the immigration authority.

Council Activities

The council carries out activities such as the following.

For the manufacturing council, no particular fees are charged for joining or while you remain a member.
*Rules differ by council field, so some fields do charge fees to join.

  • Sharing the purpose of the system for accepting Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals and examples of good practice
  • Promoting legal compliance among Specified Skilled Worker affiliated organizations and others
  • Gathering and analyzing information on changes in employment structure and economic conditions
  • Gathering and analyzing regional labor shortage conditions
  • Considering and coordinating measures to avoid concentration in major metropolitan areas and similar locations, based on labor shortage and acceptance conditions (including necessary requests to members when excessive concentration in particular regions is found)
  • Sharing and discussing other information and issues needed for smooth and proper acceptance, and related matters

“Industrial Classification” and “Job Categories” for the Three Manufacturing Fields

For the three manufacturing fields, the requirements for joining the council are met only when the company falls under both the “industrial classification” and the “job category” below.
Whether a company falls under an industrial classification is determined from documents proving the value of manufactured goods shipped within the most recent one-year period (such as delivery notes) and photos of products manufactured, among other materials submitted.
If there are doubts about the materials submitted, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will point out the issues by phone or email and instruct you to submit additional documents.
Job categories are not checked at the time of joining the council, but the job categories in which work is permitted are fixed for each field. For example, a company that falls under the “materials industry field” cannot employ a Specified Skilled Worker foreign national to perform “electrical equipment assembly” work.

*When you apply to the immigration authority for Specified Skilled Worker status of residence, they will check whether the “industrial classification” and “job category” correspond.

How to Join the Manufacturing Field Council

Here is a recommended approach for joining the manufacturing field council.
The Specified Skilled Worker manufacturing council is divided into three fields, and there are many industrial classification items, so thorough preparation is needed before starting the joining procedures.

If you follow steps (1) through (3) below, joining the council will go more smoothly, and even if you cannot join, you will notice quickly—helping you avoid wasted time and costs.

First, check which of the three fields’ industrial classifications your company falls under

Using “keyword search” on the site below can help you identify the relevant field.
URL: https://www.e-stat.go.jp/classifications/terms/10

Call the Specified Skilled Worker International Talent System Consultation Desk for Companies in the Three Manufacturing Fields (JTB) and ask whether you fall under the field you checked

*This desk is only a consultation service, so you will not receive an answer that guarantees membership in the council.

Specified Skilled Worker International Talent System Consultation Desk for Companies in the Three Manufacturing Fields (JTB)

[Phone desk]
Operator: JTB Corp. (within Shinjuku Second Business Division)
Dedicated lines: 03-5909-8762 / 03-5909-8746
Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and the year-end/New Year period)
Email: seizou-gaikokujin@jtb.com
*When inquiring by email, be sure to include the following items and details. [Subject]
Inquiry to the Manufacturing Specified Skilled Worker Foreign National Consultation Desk for Companies (1) Company name (2) Address (3) Phone number (4) Name (with furigana) (5) Field under consideration for acceptance (6) Details of your inquiry

Complete joining procedures from the Manufacturing Specified Skilled Worker International Talent Acceptance Council and Liaison Committee joining guide page

*As of May 2020, it takes about two months from application to membership (when there are no deficiencies in the submitted documents, etc.).
Manufacturing Specified Skilled Worker International Talent Acceptance Council and Liaison Committee joining guide page
URL: https://www.sswm.go.jp/entry/index.html

Check the Manufacturing Specified Skilled Worker International Talent Acceptance Council and Liaison Committee page every day

Once the membership application procedures are finished, all that remains is to wait for the result.
If there are deficiencies or additional documents needed during review, a council representative will contact you by phone or email, but you will not be notified when membership is completed.
The list of “Accepting organizations (companies)”—Specified Skilled Worker affiliated organizations or public or private organizations in Japan seeking to become Specified Skilled Worker affiliated organizations—on the page below is updated irregularly, so check daily for your company name to appear.

Manufacturing Specified Skilled Worker International Talent Acceptance Council and Liaison Committee page
URL: https://www.sswm.go.jp/entry/index.html

Summary

Once you have completed the procedures above and successfully joined the council, you can accept Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals.
There is no fee to join the manufacturing council, so even if you are not ready right away, we recommend that companies considering Specified Skilled Worker acceptance in the future join in advance.

About the author

Hayato Yamashita
Director, YourBright Inc. / Practical Operations Manager, Registered Support Organization
Specializing in Specified Skilled Worker, international talent hiring, registered support, and status of residence practice, he is involved in the practical work of introducing international talent and supporting acceptance.

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The Manufacturing Council in 2026 and Pre-Application Checks

Under the current Specified Skilled Worker system, do not rely only on explanations based on the former materials industry, industrial machinery manufacturing, and electrical and electronic information-related industries. Instead, check the latest guidance for the industrial product manufacturing field. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry publishes expected combinations of the Japan Standard Industrial Classification industry of the place of business where the Specified Skilled Worker foreign national will work and the job category they will perform. It is important to match against the actual place of business and duties where the person will work, not the company’s business as a whole.

The establishment guidelines and operating guidelines for the Manufacturing Specified Skilled Worker International Talent Acceptance Council and Liaison Committee were partially amended on May 8, 2026. Do not continue using past consultation desk names or lists of the “three manufacturing fields” as they are. Confirm the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry joining guidance, the latest review items, and combinations of industrial classification and job category before preparing residence-related applications. Even after joining, if there are changes to the place of business, industrial classification, or acceptance status, confirm any required procedures.

  • Confirm the Japan Standard Industrial Classification of the place of business where the Specified Skilled Worker foreign national will work
  • Check whether the assigned work falls under a job category in the industrial product manufacturing field
  • Confirm the latest joining guidance and review items for the council and liaison committee
  • Use Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry materials after the May 2026 amendment, not materials on the former three fields

Related reading

Related article: List of Specified Skilled Worker Eligible Industries

Related article: Complete Guide to Hiring Foreign Workers 2026 Edition

Official information

Source: Manufacturing Specified Skilled Worker International Talent Acceptance Council and Liaison Committee (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)