Learning the Japanese language can open more doors for Filipinos pursuing work in Japan, according to a Japanese official who tied language skills directly to career mobility.
“Proficiency in the Japanese language will serve as a great asset for Filipinos seeking various career paths in Japan,” Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi said in a news release.
His comments came as the 18th batch of Filipino nurses and certified care workers wrapped up their Preparatory Japanese Language Training (PJLT) in the Philippines before flying out. The group traveled to Japan under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), which governs the deployment of Filipino healthcare workers to the country.
A total of 211 candidates made up the latest cohort, broken down into 17 nurses and 194 care workers, all of whom have already departed.
Their language preparation does not end upon landing. Candidates face another six months of intensive Japanese instruction in Japan before they are placed in hospitals and caregiving facilities nationwide.
According to Yokota, stronger command of the language translates into wider employment options for Filipino workers.
Tokyo also framed the arrangement as more than a labor exchange, noting that the JPEPA deepens people-to-people ties between the two nations while acknowledging the role Filipino healthcare workers play in Japan’s medical sector.
