The website, to be created by the government affiliate Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will list all the information about traineeship opportunities in the country. Candidates can browse that information but will still have to apply through local institutions.
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From early this year to mid-July, over 50.000 Vietnamese trainees have been in Japan. (Photo: nld.com.vn) |
The aim is to revamp operations of Japan's technical trainee program, which has been created as a way of inviting young Asians to the country which is facing severe labour shortages. But the system has been exploited by brokers who act as middlemen between candidates and Vietnamese institutions. Trainees become heavily indebted even before arriving in Japan.
The new web-based job matching system will go on trial sometime after April next year and is expected to become fully operational in 2024. Under Japan's traineeship program, Vietnamese institutions, approved by the government, are responsible for recruiting the candidates and offering basic language lessons.
Currently, applicants end up paying fees to those institutions and the brokers. Japan's new website will not only list opportunities for apprenticeships, but also information such as location, wages, and holiday entitlement.
After browsing that information, candidates can apply directly to institutions in Vietnam, without going through brokers. Around 17% of Vietnamese workers used brokers to get onto a traineeship position, paying an average 446,000 yen (3,3030 USD) each.
The system is also designed to address complaints from trainees that they were made to work under terms different from their expectations. The system is expected to increase transparency.
The website will also allow those who have secured a position to record the fees they have paid to the institution. The Vietnamese government will monitor the amounts charged by institutions and ensure that trainees are not paying excessively.
Source: VNA