WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Kyoko Hodotsuka and Keiko Hattori*

ABSTRACT

1) Policies and trends in accepting foreign caregivers in Japan The current total population of Japan is approximately 125 million, of which the population aged 65 and over exceeds 36 million, with the ageing rate reaching 29%. In contrast, the population aged 15-64 peaked at 87.16 million in 1995 and then began to decline, reaching 74.21 million in 2022, or 59.4% of the total population. Furthermore, as if to spur on these current conditions, future estimates of life expectancy have shown an upward trend, with the ageing of the population continuing unabated at 90.50 years for women and 84.45 years for men by 2050. In addition, the working-age population will also find it difficult to break away from the current situation.[1] The number of foreign human resources accepted in FY2023 exceeded 2 million, and the text presented at the relevant ministerial meeting on acceptance and coexistence states that "the Government as a whole will continue to steadily implement relevant measures and regularly follow up on comprehensive measures, with the aim of realising a society in which people can live together, The Government as a whole will work towards the realisation of a convivial society."[2] Regardless of the field, it can be seen that policies are being implemented with high expectations for foreign human resources.[2] Entry routes and status of residence for foreign caregivers and the purpose of the system As a result of accepting foreign caregivers through different entry routes, the number of EPA caregivers and candidates under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which was launched in 2008, is expected to increase to 2023. As of 2023, the number of EPA care workers/candidates under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which started in 2008, was 3,257 (including 635 who have acquired qualifications), while the number of those with the "long-term care" residence status was 5,339 and 15,011 as technical apprentices. Furthermore, the number of people with specified skills stood at 28,400 at the end of December 2023, a remarkable annual increase from 16 people in September 2019, when the system was launched[3], indicating the country's proactive stance on accepting people with specified skills. Through such policies, it is clear that a new support system with cross-cultural awareness is being sought for the care of the elderly, who account for just over a quarter of the total population of Japan. The 'specified skills 1' category, which was introduced in 2008 based on the history of accepting foreign caregivers, has been used as a place to continue accepting those who have completed 'technical training' as unskilled workers, as well as those who entered Japan on 'specified activities' but were unable to continue their studies at a care training facility (hereafter 'training facility') because they found it difficult to continue their studies and were therefore unable to continue on a student visa. In other words, the "Specified Technical Skills 1" system is a means of accepting foreign personnel and at the same time preventing them from returning to their home countries.[4] In other words, the acceptance of foreign nationals under the 'specified skill No. 1' category is a policy that embodies the aforementioned government's concept of 'symbiosis'. The entry route, status of residence and purpose of employment in the care sector are different for each of these foreign care workers, and a system relating to the period of stay and future career paths has been set out (Fig. 1).[5]