The Philippine investment team that flew to Japan this month pushed for a more relaxed work arrangement for Filipinos working in the Nippon country.

This was the subject of the meeting of the Philippine delegation, headed by Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Secretary Frederick Go, with Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director-General Tereso Panga, and Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Tokyo Special Trade Representative Dita Angara-Mathay from 3 to 6 March.

The three officials met with the top officers of Keizai Doyukai (The Japan Association of Corporate Executives), 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.

At the said meeting, one of the key proposals 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 that is currently considering relaxing 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.

Beyond labor mobility, the Philippine delegation emphasized the need to expand its supply chain, particularly in the manufacturing sector.

To achieve this, the country is actively working on developing a "supply chain of people," focusing on long-term sustainable workforce development.

This involves fostering industry partnerships to ensure that Filipino workers acquire the necessary technical skills required by Japanese industries, leading to mutual economic benefits for both countries.

Moreover, the delegation discussed with the Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) global economic trends, trade policies, and potential areas for collaboration between Japan and the Philippines.

Keidanren acknowledged that the international order is currently facing significant disruptions, particularly due to geopolitical challenges that have heightened the need to preserve free trade and a stable international order.

Additionally, there was a shared recognition of the importance of addressing global-scale issues such as climate change, which require collaborative international efforts.

A key discussion point was identifying priority subsectors where language may not pose a significant barrier, allowing for smoother economic cooperation and workforce integration.

The Philippine delegation proposed an alternative approach to the United States, emphasizing that nations committed to free trade should work together to maintain economic stability and growth.

The delegation also highlighted the increasing flow of investments into the country’s renewable energy sector, signaling the Philippines’ commitment to sustainable economic development.

Additionally, Keidanren encouraged the Philippines to consider the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as a potential avenue for expanding trade and economic cooperation.

DG Panga expressed, “Our meeting with the Keizai Doyukai and Keidanren is integral in our quest to deepen our understanding of the Japanese companies’ investment trends and the global market for us to effectively promote the Philippines’ advantages and position the country as the smart investment destination in Asia-Pacific.”