In a recent bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan pledged to increase the recruitment of Filipino workers, particularly caregivers for the elderly. The commitment came during high-level discussions between the Philippine congressional delegation and Japanese parliamentarians, including National Diet of Japan Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga and Vice Speaker Banri Kaieda.
The meetings, held at the Tokyo parliamentary building, addressed the demographic challenges Japan is facing due to a declining and aging population. “Japan truly appreciates the Filipinos working here, especially elderly care workers,” stated Vice Speaker Kaieda. He expressed enthusiasm about welcoming more Filipino workers to Japan.
Speaker Martin Romualdez of the Philippine House of Representatives viewed this commitment as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations further. “The Philippines has a growing population, so we are more than happy for our people to come and work here after receiving the appropriate training,” Romualdez noted. He also highlighted the potential for Japan to continue investing in the Philippines, enhancing economic cooperation through Japanese-trained human resources.
Currently, approximately 300,000 Filipinos reside in Japan, with about 164,000 employed in caregiving, agriculture, hospitality, and manufacturing sectors.