The Japanese Embassy in Vietnam announced on Monday that they planned to organise skill exams for Vietnamese workers in the nursing, caregiving, and agriculture sectors in March 2024.
Meanwhile, a test for those working in automobile maintenance will be held from May next year.
The move came following talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio in Tokyo on December 16, as part of his trip to mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and bilateral activities.
At the talks, PM Kishida said Vietnam's workforce was indispensable for Japan's socio-economic development. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the coming organisation of a specific skills exam for apprentices in Vietnam.
Speaking with the Tien Phong Newspaper, Director General of the Department of Overseas Labour, Tong Hai Nam, said that the exams were expected to help Vietnamese workers by cutting application costs and avoiding scams by illegal labour export firms and organisations.
According to a labour export company, there will be several skill tests organised by the Japanese government and after passing a skill test, workers can apply for several related jobs. They can also receive support from the Japanese government including free language and job skill training as well as travel costs. Moreover, workers will enjoy the same salaries and job-related policies as their Japanese colleagues and can apply for permanent residence in the country.
More than 146,000 Vietnamese guest workers went abroad over the past 11 months, and Japan was the leading market receiving Vietnamese workers, with more than 74,000, according to statistics released by the Department of Overseas Labour.
