1 - Diversifying Entry Routes into the Long-term Care Sector in Japan:A Study of Indonesian Migrant Care Workers

Japan has the highest elderly population ratio in Asia. Domestic shortages of long-term care (LTC) workers have promoted the country to increase the hiring of foreign workers. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has been the sole gateway for foreigners to work as LTC workers in Japan. However, more schemes have recently opened the door to foreigners. With the recent influx of migrant LTC workers through various entry schemes, this presentation discusses the emerging issues and challenges of the LTC sector and LTC workers, with focus on Indonesian migrant LTC workers, employers and other stakeholders.
The presentation discusses some changes brought about by the diversification of entry routes into the LTC sector. Introducing LTC workers through non-EPA schemes is likely to increase the number of individuals with no health or nursing background. The national care certificate can be obtained without passing an exam, raising concerns about the potential compromise in the quality of care provided. Non-EPA schemes have led to a situation where a greater number of care facilities are hiring foreign LTC workers due to the ease of recruitment, lower cost, and the prospect of retaining workers for at least a few years. To ensure a higher number of foreign LTC workers in Japan, the presentation argues that efforts should be made to improve the quality of care work and overall working conditions in the entire LTC industry.