Flexible work pushed for Filipino migrants

An investment mission to Japan pushed for a more relaxed work arrangement for migrant Filipinos.

The Philippine delegation, headed by Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Secretary Frederick Go with Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director-general Tereso Panga, conducted the tour from 3 to 6 March. 

The local officials met with Keizai Doyukai (The Japan Association of Corporate Executives) members.

Keizai Doyukai is a prestigious professional organization composed of independent senior executives from various industries in Japan.

The meeting focused on strengthening economic cooperation between the Philippines and Japan, particularly in workforce development and supply chain expansion.

One of the key proposals in the meeting from the Philippine side was to enhance labor mobility by allowing Filipinos to work in Japan under more flexible arrangements, which aligns with ongoing discussions in the Japanese Legislature regarding the possible relaxing of certain requirements for foreign workers to address labor shortages in critical sectors.

Moreover, a significant aspect of the discussion was skills-job matching between Japan and the Philippines.

Japanese small and medium enterprises have identified agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing engineering as priority sectors where Filipino workers could help fill labor gaps and contribute to industry growth.