Japan and Philippines Sign Training Deal

• 15 January 2018
• Construction Focus
• 989 Views

Japan and the Philippines have initiated a training scheme for Filipino construction workers to ease skills shortages faced by both countries.

The training program aims to “instil Japanese discipline” to help the Philippines ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program, while also opening up the Japanese labour market to Filipino workers for the first time.

Japan is facing massive delays on flagship projects underway in preparation for its hosting of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This is mainly due to its aging population with 30 percent of construction workers over the age of 55.

Under the training agreement with the Philippines, Japanese companies will hire 30 percent of all new trainees who will work in Japan for 3 years before reintegrating into the Filipino industry.
The Philippines estimates that it also needs an extra 2 million construction workers in the coming years to meet its ambitious infrastructure targets.