Language test for Japan-bound workers on October 27 and 28

Kathmandu, August 13

The government will conduct language test of Nepali workers aspiring to go to Japan on October 27 and 28. Similarly, skill test of job aspirants to Japan has been set for November 6 and 7.

Mahesh Prasad Dahal, secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), informed that the Japanese government has agreed to take a certain number of Nepali workers for ‘caretaker’ profession initially.

“Though Japan is yet to confirm the quota for Nepali workers in the ongoing year, it has said it will take workers for care-taking jobs in the first phase. Thus, we have planned to take language and skill tests of aspirants to work in Japan accordingly,” said Dahal.

However, Dahal expects the supply of Nepali workers to Japan to begin within two months of completion of the language and skill tests.

Earlier in December, the Japanese government had formally announced that it would allow Japanese firms to hire workers from nine countries, including Nepal, and had changed its existing laws as well. As per the new provision, the Japanese government will provide residence card to the migrant workers, which will facilitate them to open a bank account and move around freely within the country, among others.

Currently, Japanese companies recruit Nepali workers through various recruitment agencies. It has been alleged that the agencies select workers on the basis of political power play. Likewise, many people reportedly fly to Japan with fake documents every year.

On March 25, the government had signed a memorandum of cooperation with Japan to pave the way for Nepali workers to travel to the world’s third-largest economy for employment in 14 job categories.

Under the agreement, the Japanese government will hire Nepali migrant workers in care-giving, building cleaning management, machine parts and tooling, industrial machinery, electric, electronic, information and construction industries. Other sectors where workers will be hired are shipbuilding and ship machinery, automobile repair and maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery and aquaculture, manufacturing of food and beverages and food service industry.