Specified Skilled Worker
The Revised Immigration Law came into effect on April 1, 2019, and “Specified Skilled Worker”, a new status of residence for foreign nationals has been created. The Foundation for International Skills and Knowledge in Construction (FITS) has become the “Proper Labor Supervision Agency” to ensure the proper working environment of the foreign nationals with residence status of Specified Skilled Worker 1, in the construction field. In addition to conducting of monitoring visits to accepting companies, Consultation Hotline in native languages has been set up to respond to consultation from and to support the foreign nationals with residence status of Specified Skilled Worker.
Current Acceptable Job Categories in the Construction Field
The work division in the construction field has been reorganized into "Civil Engineering", "Architecture", and "Lifeline/Facilities". (August 30, 2022)
[Civil Engineering] (Work related to new construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair of civil engineering facilities)
・You can advance to SSW1, if you pass the Skill Evaluation Exam for SSW1 such as (Civil Engineering) in the construction field, or if you successfully completed the Technical Intern Training 2 of the job category listed below, then you will be exempted from the exam.
Applicable job categories: Well Drilling, Concrete Forming, Steel Reinforcement, Scaffolding, Concrete Pumping, Wellpoint Construction, Construction Machine Operation, Steelwork/Ironwork, Painting, Welding
[Architecture] (Work related to new construction, adding structures, rebuilding, renovation, etc. of structural building)
・You can advance to SSW1, if you pass the Skill Evaluation Exam for SSW1 such as (Building Construction) in the construction field, or if you successfully completed the Technical Intern Training 2 of the job category listed below,
then you will be exempted from the exam.
Applicable job categories: Panel Beating, Fixture Making, Carpentry, Concrete Forming, Steel Reinforcement, Scaffolding, Masonry, Tiling, Roofing, Plastering, Interior Finishing, Paperhanging, Sash Installation, Waterproofing, Concrete Pumping, Furnace construction, Steelwork/Ironwork, Painting, Welding
[Lifelines/Facilities] (Work related to maintenance, alteration, repair, etc. of the telecommunications, gas, water, electricity, and other lifelines/facilities)
・You can advance to SSW1, if you pass the Skill Evaluation Exam for SSW1 such as (Lifelines/Facilities) in the construction field, or if you successfully completed the Technical Intern Training 2 of the job category listed below, then you will be exempted from the exam.
Applicable job categories: Panel Beating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment Installation, Plumbing, Thermal Insulation, Welding
Procedure for Acceptance
You can check the website of each ministry regarding the acceptance procedure of the Specified Skilled Worker in the construction field.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website
Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
About the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) membership
An Accepting Company must join the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), the organization responsible for the foreign Specified Skilled Worker acceptance operation. You can choose either to become a member of one of the construction business operators’ associations which is a full member of JAC or to become supporting member of JAC. For more details, please check the website of Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC).
https://jac-skill.or.jp/
Information on creating “Free Job Recommendation” page intended for foreign skilled workers”
Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) has created “Free Job Recommendation” page intended for foreign skilled workers in construction industry”.
This page has been created for
- those who want to work as “Specified Skilled Worker (a residency status)”, who want to look for construction companies recruiting foreign skilled workers.
- those working with a residency status of “Specified Skilled Worker” but want to look for a company for job change.
Please refer to the website of Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) for details.
Click here for the JAC Free Job Recommendation
*In case you need support for your native language, please contact FITS Hotline Consultation in native languages.
Seminar after the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Worker in Construction
FITS will hold a seminar for foreign nationals who enter Japan with a new status of residence “Specified Skilled Worker” and start working in construction field.
For accepting companies with the Acceptance Plan for Specified Skilled Worker in Construction accredited by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, after the acceptance of the foreign Specified Skilled Workers, it is obligatory to have them take this seminar.