2nd batch of caregivers-to-be off to Japan

Following the provisions of the Japan-Philippines
Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), the second batch of 10
Filipino caregivers-to-be are scheduled to leave for Japan today,
September 26, the Japanese embassy here said in a news release.

Minister Akio Isomata, Minister for Economic Affairs at the embassy,
attended the send-off ceremony last Friday at the HEDC Building in UP
Diliman.

According to the embassy, these Filipino candidate caregivers under
the School Track stipulated in JPEPA will take a two- to four-year
school course in Japan. Upon their arrival in Japan, all candidates
will undergo six months of Japanese language training with the
Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS).

Thereafter, they will enroll in caregiver schools in Japan and will be
qualified as careworkers upon completion of the course, it added.

At the send-off, Isomata said: “I don’t mean to frighten you but this
training will be very intensive and fast-paced so that you can acquire
adequate Japanese language skills in a shorter period as six months at
the level with which you can work in Japanese caregiving facilities.”

“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this Japanese language
training because whether or not you will be able to finish your
caregiver school curriculum successfully depends on your Japanese
language ability, as you are all aware.”

He suggested that to learn the language faster, the
candidate-caregivers should mingle with the Japanese people.

“I also hope you will have yourselves fully immersed in the Japanese
language environment, as well as in Japanese culture when you arrive
in Japan,” he added.

The first batch of candidates under the school track went to Japan in
September 2009 and is currently enrolled in caregiver schools.

The much-debated JPEPA has been effective since December 11, 2008.

JPEPA, Isomata said, would strengthen the strategic partnership
between Japan and the Philippines.

“We are neighbour-countries separated only by sea. And as you know,
for a very long time in the history, there has been a continuous
exchange of human resources and this has formed the basis of the good
relationship between our two countries. Your visit to Japan will also
contribute to increasing and maximizing such exchange,” he added.

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