Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Fiscal Year 2016

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,Transport and Tourism

Sigmaxyz Inc.

“The Education and Training Program Development Project for Foreign Construction Workers Acceptance Program”

Overview of the Education and Training Program Development Project for Foreign Construction Workers Acceptance Program

TechnicalIntern

Training Program

Foreign Construct

ion Worker Acceptance

Program

Background

Together with the effort to secure and develop the human resources in Japan, the utilization of industry-ready foreign human resources is promoted in order to meet temporary increase demands for construction due to the acceleration of reconstruction projects and improvements in the facilities for Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020

Objectives

To improve the skills and motivation of technical intern trainees and foreign construction workers as well as to help conduct Foreign Construction Worker Acceptance Program smoothly, the Education and Training Program was developed with the following objectives:

※The TITP will be extended to a maximum of 5 years in FY2017. The FCWAP will end in FY2020.

4th yr 5th yr 6th yr 7th yr1st yr 2nd yr 3rd yr

More than 1 year

Option 3Start after

returning home

Technical Training

Option 2Start after re-turning home

Under1 yr

Follow-up

Enable trainees to attain a higher technical level

① Improve the skills of the intern trainees who complete training1

① Increase the number active in the local construction industry after completing the training

2

Increase workerscontributing tothe local construction industry

2

1Option 1

Start immediately

2

Approach and Schedule

Approach

Issues and solutions were defined through working groups (aka WGs) conducted with organizations in the construction sector in Japan and overseas countries (Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar)

In the Japan WGs, initial hypotheses on the issues/ solutions were derived

In the Overseas WGs, the present local situation was understood and the feasibility of the Japan WGs’ hypotheses were tested

Schedule

WG Key topics of the discussion

2016/12 Japan WG 1

• Derive initial hypothesis on issues/ solutions of the Education and Training Program

• Career paths Japan expects for the trainees to increase retention of returning trainees

2017/1

Overseas WG 1• Myanmar (1/16-17)• Vietnam (1/19-20）• Philippines (1/24-25)

• Discuss initial hypothesis of issues/ solutions of the Education and Training Program

• Understand current careers for returning trainees

2017/2 Japan WG 2

• Realize modifications to the Education and Training Program (process chart and textbook)

• Consider methods of support to improve retention

2017/3

Overseas WG 2• Vietnam（2/28-3/1）• Myanmar（3/8-9）• Philippines（3/15-16）

• Agree on modifications to the Education and Training Program

• Introduce methods of support to improve retention

3

List of WG Participants 1/4 Japan

Industry Name of Organization

JapanWG

VietnamWG

MyanmarWG

PhilippinesWG

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

EngineeringJFE Engineering Corporation ✓

JGC Corporation ✓ ✓

Construction

Asano Group ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Shinnihon co., ltd ✓ ✓ ✓

SHINRYO Corporation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Sugawara SetsubiCorporation

✓ ✓

Modair MANILA co., ltd, inc. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Nikken co., ltd ✓

Fukamatsugumi co., ltd. ✓ ✓

Matsuzawa Kawaraten co., ltd

✓ ✓ ✓

Mukai Corporation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

TradingJFE Shoji Trade Corporation ✓ ✓ ✓

Sojitz Corporation ✓ ✓ ✓

General Contractor

TOYO Construction co., ltd ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Rinkai Construction co., ltd ✓

ShipbuildingJapan Marine United Corporation

✓

HousingManufacturer

Sumitomo Forestry co., ltd ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Manufacturer

IHI Corporation ✓ ✓

Kanpoh Steel co., ltd ✓ ✓ ✓

LIXIL Group Corporation ✓ ✓ ✓

NICHIAS Corporation ✓ ✓

Human Resource

Jellyfish Corporation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

4

List of WG Participants 2/4 Vietnam

Japanese, Vietnamese participants Image of the WG held in Hanoi

Pictures from the WG

5

Name of Organization Industry

C.E.O Travel JSC Tourism

Hanoi International Vocational College(FLC Group) Education

Hanoi Polytechnic College (HPC) Education

Ho Chi Minh City Vocational College Education

Dai Viet Construction and Trading JSC Construction

Infrastructure Development and Construction Corporation (LICOGI)

Construction

Vietnam Construction And Import - Export JSC (VINACONEX)

Construction

C.E.O Service Development JSC Human Resource

Van Xuan Manpower Development & Investment co., ltd Human Resource

Viet Nam HPC Investment co., ltd Human Resource

Viglacera Investment And Import - Export JSC Human Resource

CEO Group Real Estate

Fairway Property JSC Real Estate

Property & Management Company Real Estate

Viglacera Corporation JSC Manufacturer

Vietnam National Real Estate Association (VNREA) Industrial Association

Ministry of Construction Government

List of WG Participants 3/4 Philippines

Japanese, Filipino participants Image of the WG held in Manila

6

Name of Organization Industry

Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc. Education

AV. Garcia Inter-Asia Development Corporation Inc. Construction

Makati Development Corporation Construction

D.M. Consunji, Inc. Conglomerate

EEI Corporation Conglomerate

Gulf Asia International Corporation (GAIC) Human Resource

Ruru Global Recruitment Services Inc. Human Resource

QRD International Placement Inc. Human Resource

ZMG Ward Howell Human Resource

e-Global Order Corporation Real Estate

Mallonga Consulting Services, Inc. Real Estate

Soriano Projects & Ventures Group Real Estate

Chamber of Real Estate & Builders' Associations (CREBA) Industrial Association

Philippine Constructors Association, Inc. (PCA) Industrial Association

Department of Trade & Industry Philippines (DTI) Government

Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) Government

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Government

Pictures from the WG

List of WG Participants 4/4 Myanmar

Name of Organization Industry

Dynamic Engineering and General Trading co., ltd. Engineering

Regards Engineering co., ltd. Engineering

Dawn (Ah Yone Oo) Construction co., ltd. Construction

Jyoance International co., ltd. Construction

KKN Construction & Decoration Group Construction

Mya Nan Dar Construction co., ltd. Construction

Original Group co., ltd. Construction

Super Max Construction co., ltd. Construction

Golden Gate Engineering co., ltd Construction

A1 Group of Companies Conglomerate

DNSY Group of Companies Conglomerate

Max Myanmar Construction co., ltd. Conglomerate

Diamond Voyage co., ltd Conglomerate

Dagon Construction co., ltd General Contractor

Shwe Taung Group: High Tech Concrete (Technology) co., ltd General Contractor

Dagon International Limited Real Estate

JM Trading co., ltd Human Resource

Harmony Travel, Tours & Oversea Employment Agency Human Resource

Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA) Industrial Association

Japanese, Myanma participants Image of the WG held in Yangon

7

Pictures from the WG

Project Results Focus areas for this project

Sta

te to

achie

ve

(Aim

)

1)Improve prior training

• Training content/ standards to achieve are unclear, resulting in a dispersion of skill levels. JP co.s must educate trainees from the basics

2)Retain trainees in the local construction industry

• Little financial/ professional motivation to stay in industry

• Co.s cannot contact graduates due to lack of mgmt. system

Recruit members

intending to improve their

skills

Trainees are able to learn

through OJT in Japan

Gain skills through OJT

Home country Japan

Work utilizing the acquired

skills

•Trainees are rarely ready for OJT

•Training varies by sending org. resulting in a variation in the trainees’ levels

•Applicants are limited due to the difficulty of the Japanese language

•Training time is not fully utilized due to need to improve Japanese

Reality

•Many return tohome country

•Trainees rarelyreturn to sending co.

•Many switch to other industries for betterwages

•Careerspursued are unknown

Apply

JP/ Home country

Prior TrainingLectures/

Technical trainingWork

Through an investigation on the current Education and Training Program, and the steps leading to and following it, conducted through Japan/ Overseas WGs, 2 high-priority issues were defined

①Improve prior training: Increase applicants/ effect of training

②Retain in local industry: Contribute to construction cos after TITP

Priority areas

8

Project Results Issue1: Prior training improvement proposals 1/3

Subjects of Prior Training

Goal/ Education methods

States to achieve through the prior training and the necessary training methods were defined

Total：600 hours(approx. 4 months）

Time required foreducation(standard)

•500 hours(Max recommended timeto pass N4)

•40 hours(30 min/day)

•40 hours(30 min/day）

Goal

Educationmethods

(other thanclassroomlearning)

•Conversational level •Acquire N4

•Cultural diffsbetween JP & home andhow to adaptare known

•Disciplinesfor safety are known•Can explainsymptoms

•Speak w. Japanese•Tests (x2/week)•Read manga,sing JP songs

•Speak w. people who’ve beento Japan•Watch dramas/ movies

•Simulate actions for safety•Tests

•Key legal systems /proceduresare known

•Simulate legal procedures(fill out/ role-play)

•10 hours(1 class/month)

Trainees are prepared for life and training in Japan• Trainees can speak conversational Japanese• Trainees understand the Japanese have certain customs/ manners• Trainees understand the Japanese have certain disciplines for safety

State toachieve

9

Japanese Everyday Life Legal Protect. Safety&Health

Fundamentals （Japanese/ Everyday Life, Legal Protection, Safety & Health) are mandatory

Accepting co.s and sending organizations should decide whether to conduct technical skills trainingAccepting co.s are responsible for enhancing trainees’ skills and thus for the content of the technical training during prior training

Project Results Issue1: Prior training improvement proposals 2/3

Rec. texts were selected based on effectiveness in achieving subject’s goals

If no rec. texts existed/ improvements were needed, guidelines for improvement were created

Accepting co.s should send the sending organizations their own textbooks

A comprehensible textbook should be created considering the following

Recommended textbooks and modifications

(Ref)Guideline for creating technical skills textbooks

“Systems and procedures

trainees should be aware of”

Japanese

• Enables acquisition of N4• 3A Network “Minna no Nihongo

Elementary Japanese I, Ⅱ”• None

• Systems/ procedures are listed and limited to those whichtrainees should be aware of

• (No rec. textbooks)• (N/A)

Legal Protection

Everyday Life

• Concisely list aspects of mindsetand rules to follow to live in JP

• JITCO “Guide to Life in Japan”• Lack of content showing the

necessary mindset to live in Japan

• Safety disciplines which are a prerequisite for work

• VCHRDPC “Safety of the construction industry workers”[p.1-11]

• None

Safety & Health (Safety)

• Manual for actions to take when ill• JITCO “A Guide to Better Health

Management” (Self-Report Form)[p.24-31]

• Lacking guidelines to follow when ill

Safety & Health (Health)

“List of key points in

everyday life”“Flow chart

to usewhen ill”

Legend：(Top) Requirements of textbook, (Mid) Recommended textbook, (Bottom) How to improve textbook

• Categorize content (by use, scene, process etc)

• Make use of plenty of illustrations, include local language

Points to consider

※：Images of textbooks will be released on MLIT’s HP

New material

10

* VCHRDPC :Vietnam Construction Human Resources Development Promotion Council

[Ref] Image of modifications to textbooks

Modifications to “Guide to Life in Japan”

Image of “Technical skills textbook”

～：Where the local language will be stated

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Project Results Issue1: Prior training improvement proposals 3/3

The curriculum defined monthly goals and needed learning content to act as a guideline for achieving each subject’s goals

To create a foundation within the trainees for life in Japan, the first 2 months will focus on the basics of Japanese and life in Japan while the last 2 months will focus on practical content

The technical skills training is likely to be the most effective during the last 2 months, after the basics have been learned, but the accepting co.s and sending orgs should decide the timing

Curriculum (proposal)

1st Month 2nd Month 3rd Month 4th Month

Technicalskills

Fundamentals

Japanese

EverydayLife

LegalProtection

Safety &Health

•Name of tools

•Name/ use of materials

• Work process/Safety actions

Gain basic understanding of Japanese/everyday life in Japan

Build foundation for training/ life in Japan

• Basic conversations/ vocabulary(N5 level)

• Conversational Japanese（N4 level）

• Mindsetneeded tolive in Japan

• Japanese customs(Rules/ manners/actions)

• Differences between Japan and home country

•Withholdingtax

• Lump-sum withdrawal payments

•Resident registration•Residence card/passport loss

• Exemption of dependents

• Safety: Safety disciplenes/ terminology (local language)

•Health: Actions to takewhen ill

• Safety: Safety disciplines/terminology(Japanese)

• Safety: Applying safetydisciplineson-site

• Learnhiragana

Focuson learning hiragana

Focus on fundamentals

Practical learningClassroom learning

(Curriculum for technical skills is for ref)

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Project Results Issue2: Japan’s options for support to retain trainees in the local construction industry

Initially, the aim was to help improve retention by supporting trainees’ careers. Yet, this proved difficult as the local situation required qualifications/ university degrees for site supervisors/ execution managers, which is in effect a glass ceiling for workers

Careers of returning trainees

Support from Japan (proposal)

Other methods of support were considered from the perspectives of employment and skill acquisition

Trainees(graduates)

Worker ForemanSite

SupervisorExecution Manager

Trainer

Glass ceiling

Qualifications/ University degrees are necessary

Other industries

In pursuit of better wages・・・

Feasibility of the options was considered from several perspectives

Employment

① Job-matching support

② Local hires by JP co.s

③ Support acquisition of skills

④ Support acquisition of qualifications

Skill acquisition

Number of people that can be supported (impact) State of the Japanese co.s’ local business Areas in which Japanese technical skills are most

effective

Perspectivesto evaluatefeasibility

After evaluating the options, the “①Job-matching support” option was considered to be the most reasonable(To realize this, the “Career Return Navigation” was created. Refer to the next page)

13

[Ref] Career Return Navigation (Construction workers DB)

Career Return Navigation

Goal

Ensure foreigners with experience in the Japanese constru-ction industry can contribute to their home country using skills acquired in Japan

Trainees’benefits

Gain support to build a career using skills learned in Japan / Japanese

Companies’benefits

Companies with businesses in the relevant countries can gain support to acquire human resources

Overview of the system

Matching DB

④ Interview

⑤Employ

③ Matching

②Scout①Entry

Browse

Scout

※1 The system covers steps ①〜③

※2 Refer to the “Career Return Navigation” pamphlet and other public documents for further details

14

Next Steps

Continuously improve the Education and Training Program

• This project was the first step of a mid-to-long term process to improve the Education and Training Program

• It is important that the results of this project are implemented so as to begin a continuous PDCA cycle to improve the Education and Training Program

Customize theeducation program for each country

• For “Everyday Life” and technical subjects, it is especially impor-tant to clearly state differences between the home country/ Japan

• In addition, standardizing terminology used for Japanese work/ work processes can help improve acceptance of trainees/ workers and increase effectiveness. The Japanese’s productivity should improve as well

Expand the Japanese companies’ capacity to accept graduates

• To ensure trainees maximize use of skills gained in Japan, Japanese co.s should enhance their overseas businesses/ employment activities

• In addition to the expansion of overseas businesses by co.s such as sub-contractors that directly employ workers, it is crucial that major general contractors, trading co.s and government reinforce their cooperation and support other co.s’ overseas businesses

• Cooperate with other countries to consider new frameworks that ensure trainees fully utilize skills and understanding of work ethics gained in Japan after returning to their home country

Evaluate the sending organizations and discloseresults

• The large number of sending orgs allows for diversity but is also likely to be a factor that results in the wide variation of the trainees’ levels and complications in managing the trainees

• It is significant to regulate education methods, manage the levels achieved by each sending org’s trainees and evaluate sending orgs

• It is also important to provide support to the sending orgs, alert and provide guidance for sending orgs below the expected levels and take action based on these evaluations

Clarify posi-tion on TITP, communicate merits of training in JP

• Considering that Japan is just one country with programs like the TITP, it is important to strengthen communications on the points that make training in Japan attractive

• In addition to clarifying Japan’s position on the TITP, developing Japan’s appeal and taking according actions are necessary

Outcomes of this project

• A basis for the prior education was established by defining its goals and needed education methods (time/ rec. textbooks)

• On the other hand, issues were raised on aspects that could not be fully addressed during this project, as well as the TITP’s scheme. These should be discussed further.

Topics for further discussion

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Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

SIGMAXYZ Inc. Toranomon Towers Office 9F 4-1-28, Toranomon, Minatoku, Tokyo 105-0001 Japan TEL ：03-6430-3400HP ：http://www.sigmaxyz.com/

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Construction Labor and Materials Office Construction Market Division2-1-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyodaku, Tokyo,100-8918 JapanTEL ：03-5253-8283FAX ：03-5253-1555