THE deployment of Filipino caregivers under Japan’s Technical Intern Training (TIT) is expected to finally start soon, following last week’s release of the program’s implementing rules and regulations.
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Bernard B. Olalia said they are targeting to send the first batch of caregivers through the TIT next month.
“September 1 will be the official start of the application,” Olalia said in a text message to the BusinessMirror.
On August 24 Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III issued Department Order (DO) 188-B containing the TIT guidelines.
The issuance states applicants must have a care-giving national certificate II from a training center accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to qualify for the program.
They should also be holders of a bachelor’s degree in any four-year health care-
related course and hurdle the necessary multiple Japanese proficiency language exam before application and during their training.
Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and have at least one year of experience as care worker here or abroad.
Qualified applicants will be deployed in facilities of “supervising organization” in Japan, which has been accredited by the POEA and Japan’s Organization for Technical Intern Training.
As of Monday, Olalia said, they have accredited 188 sending organizations for the program.
These listed facilities include those involved in Child Welfare Law Services; Comprehensive Support for the Daily Lives and Social Lives of Persons with Disabilities; Law on Social Welfare for the Elderly and Long-Term Care Insurance Law; Public Assistance Law; other social welfare; and hospitals and clinics.
The supervising, organizing will regularly pay for the allowances of the Filipino caregivers, as well as provide for their mandatory medical and health insurance in Japan; and pay for their two-way transportation to Japan, including their mandatory vacation and termination of employment.
DO 188-B took effect on August 24, 2018.
The TIT will now allow Filipino caregivers to work in Japan via its private sector.
Prior to the program, Filipino caregivers could only be employed in Japan through the government-to-government track of the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.