IN Japan, spending too much time chit-chatting or playing with your phone while on the clock is typically looked down upon. Doing this gives others a strong impression that you’re really not taking your job seriously.
Japanese people really don’t talk during work. They don’t go for tea breaks while at work.
In a major shift for a country long closed to immigrants, Japan, a highly developed country with the world’s third-largest economy, is looking forward to foreigners in several skilled jobs.
It is opening its doors to blue-collar workers from overseas to fill the gaps left by an ageing population. If you are looking for a job in Japan, especially if you have the right skill, here is the good news.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan is in Tokyo with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to ink the memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with the Japanese government which could potentially open doors to thousands of Malaysians to work there.
The objective of the MoC is to help elevate Technical Education and National Vocational Training (TVET) to produce a multi-skilled workforce among locals focused on mastery of specialised techniques.
Malaysian skilled workers will soon work in 14 specific sectors – upskill and reskill. This includes hardware industry and machine parts, industrial machinery, electrical industry, industry shipbuilding and ship machinery, electronic and information, repair and maintenance industry automobile and aviation industry.
As of last October, Japan housed 1.73 million foreign workers, of a total population of 125.4 million and just 2.5% of its working population.
Once the MoC is signed, Malaysia would be the 10th country to provide workers to Japan, joining other source nations such as the Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
This is in line with Empowering the Malaysian Look East Policy and introducing the content of Keluarga Malaysia in the bilateral ties agenda to be highlighted by Ismail Sabri during his six-day official working visit.
At the invitation of the Nikkei Conference, Ismail Sabri will attend the 27th International Conference on The Future of Asia, an annual gathering of political and economic leaders and captains of industry from the region.
The prime minister will deliver a keynote address on the theme “Redefining Asia’s role in a divided world” and his attendance will provide a platform for Malaysia to share ideas and engage in initiatives aimed at greater economic cooperation between countries in the region.
Ismail Sabri is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, International Trade and Industry Senior Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Saravanan, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to East Asia Datuk Seri Richard Riot Anak Jaem, Rural Development Ministry Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, and senior government officials.
The 27th International Conference on the Future of Asia will be held on May 26 and 27.
This year’s conference, titled Redefining Asia’s role in a divided world, brings various Asian leaders, including Ismail Sabri, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha of Thailand, President Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, Deputy Prime Pham Binh Minh of Vietnam, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Besides working visits to the Japan Vocational Ability Development Association (Javda), Japan Institute for labour policy and Training (JILPT), and Cyberdyne Studio to observe the most advanced Neuro-Robotics technology, the HAL (Hybrid Assistive Robot Suit Limb) which is the world’s first cyborg robot related to rehabilitation and rehabilitation.
Saravanan is also scheduled to meet the Tamil community and diaspora this evening at a dinner event with the Tokyo Tamil Sangam.
Apart from higher wages, Malaysians working in Japan would gain skills, work ethic and experience that they could bring back to Malaysia.
At the same time, it would not be easy to qualify to work in Japan as only those assessed by the Japan government with the skills and competency in the Japanese language would be considered. – The Vibes, May 25, 2022
M. Vivekananthan is a political analyst
