The ideal way of international exchange of human resources indicated by COVID-19 disaster and theTITP.
by DEVNET Japan
In this article, I will discuss the purpose of japan’s TITP, its divergence, and current issues.
The problem of international exchange of “human resources” has occurred not only in Japan but also around the world. Now that exchanges are stagnant due to the COVID-19 disaster, it is necessary to highlight issues and implement solutions.
Akegawa – This time, the COVID-19 disaster has stopped physical exchanges between international countries, and at the same time, many problems have been created. Japan has also suffered a sudden recession, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are unilaterally laying off trainees who are easy to cut first. Sometimes we have received reports of malicious things such as leaving them at the airport or inging them to work without pay. DEVNET and now SDGs as part of the training system, have carried out various initiatives. However, in light of this situation, we need to accelerate it more. We are now looking to agriculture. Japan has a wonderful system called the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives. It is a project to provide this system itself to Vietnam. Under this system, we intend to implement a system in Vietnam to deposit livestock such as poultry and cattle and support the source of production. This is based on Japan’s high agricultural technology and the current situation where there is a serious shortage of human resources, mainly in rural areas, and the operation of rich land that is not utilized in Vietnam. Currently, we are focusing on agricultural cooperatives and are moving toward realization.
Senior Vice President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Domichi – In order to create a Japanese system such as the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and employ them in Vietnam, it is necessary to request support from the Vietnamese government to the Japanese government. With this request, technical cooperation would be possible if foundations and human resources who could support in Japan and other countries entered. In the company where I am an outside officer, we secure a stable foreign labor force, in the industries necessary to strengthen alliances with related companies in the countries to which they are dispatched. M&A are even needed and I’m thinking about it. Mr. Akegawa’s plan is to support the start-up of returning technical intern trainees, and there is a similar aspect. I think that it is an excellent idea that it is trying to create industry in the dispatching country by sharing the development of skills without seeing it as a temporary labor force. In order to conduct these activities, it is necessary to recognize that the two governments will jointly implement solutions to various problems, and if we can create the idea of fostering human resources through cooperation between Japan and Vietnam, and apply them to trainees, specific skills, international students etc, you can expect the effect to go up.
Former Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam Senior Researcher, Japan Economic Research Institute Inc.
Umeda ? As a matter of fact, in Japan, jobs and housing are lost due to the COVID-19 disaster, there is an increase in the number of Vietnamese who are available to return home. At present (early December), about 20,000 Vietnamese wish to return home, but due to problems with the capacity of isolation facilities in Vietnam ( isolation is mandatory for a certain period of time as a measure against COVID-19 after returning) it is difficult to increase return flights, and there are situations where it is not possible to return home. I belong to “NAGOMI” The National Symbiosis Support Association for Foreign Materials in cooperation with the Democratic Party of Japan, we have started study sessions on specific measures necessary for improving the system for technical intern training, specific skills, study abroad, and settlement (Nikkei). Al addition, al cause the number of new skills trainees is small, they have been visiting Japan since November.
Akegawa – Currently, the practical training system has stalled due to aspects such as not being able to interview because of COVID-19 disaster and not being able to move people. Also, as I mentioned earlier, it has become more pronounced that the receiving companies in Japan have not been able to continue employing trainees, and have despised trainees.
Although our hands are full of our own country, we can also see this COVID-19 disaster as an opportunity to review and reorganize the way the TITP has been in place so long. Rather, it’s something that can only be done now. If the COVID-19 calamity subsides and the global economy, including human migration, resumes, it is clear that a practical training system that is no different from the previous way of doing things will be operated, and the problem will be again in the dark.
And for Japan, where population decline has not stopped, the shortage of human resources is one of the factors that can lead to economic collapse. It is no longer a “contribution activity” for Japan. The fact that there is a shift in the original purpose of the practical training system is something that should naturally happen as long as there is a change in the times. That is why we must raise issues, reorganize systems according to the times, and create an environment in which systems can be “utilized”.