GUIDELINES FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF FILIPINO NURSES (KANGOSHI) AND CAREGIVERS (KAIGOFUKUSHISHI) FOR JAPAN ON A GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT ARRANGEMENT

Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) forged between the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Japan
International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS) signed on 12
January 2009, in accordance with the framework of the Movement of
Natural persons under the Economic Partnership Agreement of the
Philippines and Japan (JPEPA), the following guidelines are hereby
issued to facilitate the recruitment and deployment of Filipino nurses
(Kangoshi) and caregivers (Kaigofukushishi) to Japan.

I. SYSTEM OF DEPLOYMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF CANDIDATES

In close coordination with the JICWELS, the system of deployment and
acceptance of candidates for nurses and caregivers shall be based on the
following policies:

1. The number of candidates that can enter Japan under the JPEPA
shall be based on the actual number of vacancies informed by the
Government of Japan.

2. Candidate-nurses and candidate-caregivers shall initially
complete a six-month language and culture training in Japan at a
designated training facility of the government before starting their
on-the-job training with the respective hospital or caregiving
institution.

3. The candidates shall obtain their qualification as “Kangoshi”
or as “Kaigofukushishi” by passing the respective national examination
within the period allowable under the laws and regulations of Japan
i.e., three (3) years for nurses and four (4) years for caregivers.
Nurse-candidates shall have three (3) chances to pass the examination
while caregiver-candidates shall need at least three (3) years work
experience before they can take the examination once on the 4^th year of
stay in Japan.

4.The POEA shall shortlist applicants based on the minimum
qualifications under the JPEPA. The POEA shall adopt, as may be
necessary, an additional set of criteria to further shortlist the
number of applicants up to the maximum required for endorsement to
JICWELS which is 1.2 times the number that can enter Japan on a
particular year. Endorsement of applicants to JICWELS shall be on a
first-come-first-served basis, subject to the submission of complete and
authentic documentary requirements.

II. QUALIFICATIONS

1. Candidate – Nurses

a. Registered Nurse
b. With three (3) years hospital experience
c. Willingness to undergo a full time Japanese language training for six (6) months in Japan
d. Willingness to take the Nursing Licensure of Japan within the
time allowed in order to qualify as registered Kangoshi under the laws
and regulations of Japan.
e. No pending criminal or administrative cases or any other
restriction which would prevent travel outside of the Philippines
f. Not restricted from entering Japan.

2. Candidate-Caregivers

a. Graduate of any four year college course and Certified Caregiver
by the Technical Education and Skills Development Academy (TESDA) or
Graduate of Nursing Course.
b. Willingness to undergo a full-time Japanese language training for six (6) months in Japan
c. Willingness to take the national examination for
candidate-caregivers within the time allowed in order to qualify as a
Certified Kaigofukushishi under the laws and regulations of Japan.
d. No pending criminal or administrative case or any other
restriction which would prevent travel outside of the Philippines
e. Not restricted from entering Japan.

III. REGISTRATION OF APPLICANTS

1. Interested applicants who are qualified may register on-line through any internet facility at www.poea.gov.ph or at all POEA offices with on-line registration facilities.

2. Registration is free of charge and is governed by the Guidelines
on E-registration issued under Advisory No. 1, Series of 2008 and posted
in the POEA website.

IV. PRE-SELECTION OF APPLICANTS

1. Only applicants with active profiles in the POEA Registry shall be considered for pre-selection and pre-screening.

2. Pre-selected applicants (those identified from the registry for
pre-screening/validation of documents) shall be notified through their
registered e-mail accounts or contact numbers.

3. Pre-selected applicants shall be required to present the original
and submit photocopies of the following documents at Window L, Ground
Floor, POEA, BFO Bldg., Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City or
at the nearest POEA office in the regions, as may be directed in the
notification, for validation:

For candidate-nurses:

1. Self-made bio-data/resume with detailed job description with one (1) piece 2×2 colored picture
2. Valid Passport
3. Valid NBI Clearance (for travel abroad)
4. College Diploma
5. Transcript of Records
6. Valid PRC ID
7. PRC Board Certificate
8. PRC Board Rating
9. Employment Certificate/s
10. Training/Skills Certificate/s
11. Japanese language proficiency certificate (optional)

For candidate-caregivers:

1. Self-made bio-data/resume with detailed job description with one (1) piece 2×2 colored picture
2. Valid Passport
3. Valid NBI Clearance (for travel abroad)
4. Authenticated College Diploma
5. TESDA Certificate on Caregiving (NC II)
6. Transcript of Records
7. Training/Skills Certificate/s
8. Japanese language proficiency certificate (optional)

4. Applicants found to have provided false or incorrect information
or documents or who fail to present and submit documents to support
their educational attainment, training, work experience and personal
circumstances shall be disqualified from the registry and from
application under this program.

V. PRE-QUALIFICATION OF APPLICANTS

1. Pre-selected applicants shall be pre-qualified based on the
criteria set for candidates under the JPEPA and completeness and
authenticity of documents submitted.

2. Pre-qualified applicants shall be notified, through e-mail or by
phone, to appear and attend a pre-recruitment briefing to be conducted
by the POEA on the system of deployment and acceptance of candidates
under the MOU-JPEPA (Economic Partnership Agreement of the Philippines
and Japan) and the status of accepted candidates before they pass the
required National Licensure Examination for nurses and national examination for caregivers.

3. Pre-qualified applicants who have attended the pre-recruitment
briefing shall be included in the List of Candidates for Kangoshi
(nurse) and for Kaigofukushishi (caregivers) for endorsement to JICWELS.

4. Inclusion in the list of Candidates does not guaranty employment at a hospital or a caregiving facility in Japan.

VI. APTITUDE TEST AND INTERVIEW

1. JICWELS, through its authorized representatives,shall conduct an
aptitude test and interview in a joint session of all the applicants
included in the List of Candidates. Hospitals/Caregiving institutions
who wish to participate in the interview may join the interview.

2. The interview may be recorded as a video clip with the consent of the applicants.

3. An ID number shall be issued by JICWELS to a candidate who has passed both the interview and aptitude test.

VII. MEDICAL EXAMINATION

1. Candidates who have passed the aptitude test and interview shall
be required to undergo a medical examination with a DOH-accredited
medical clinic of their choice.

2. The medical examination shall be in accordance with the requirements and scope as agreed upon between the POEA and JICWELS.

3. Candidates shall shoulder the cost of medical examination.

VIII. MATCHING OF CANDIDATES WITH JAPANESE HOSPITALS/CAREGIVING INSTITUTIONS

1. Candidates who have passed the medical examination shall be matched with Japanese hospitals/caregiving institutions.

2. Matching of candidates shall be done by JICWELS in accordance with a matching program designed for this purpose.

3. Each candidate shall have three (3) chances of being matched with a
Japanese accepting institution or prospective employer in accordance
with the preference order list of accomplished by the candidate/s.

IX. DOCUMENTATION OF MATCHED CANDIDATES

1 . Signing of an Employment Contract – Candidates who have been
successfully matched shall sign an employment contract (Japanese and
English versions) with Japanese accepting institution or prospective
employer.

2. Visa Processing – The Japanese accepting institution or
prospective employer, through JICWELS, shall make arrangements for
issuance of visa to successful candidates.

3. Visa Issuance – The POEA, in coordination with the Department of
Foreign Affairs, which shall issue a Note Verbale to the Japanese
Embassy in Manila, shall apply for issuance of visa, in behalf of the
successful candidate/s. The candidate shall shoulder the cost of visa.

4. Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) – Prior to deployment
selected candidate/s shall undergo a Pre-departure Orientation Seminar
(PDOS) conducted by the POEA. The PDOS shall include, among others,
modules on the rights and obligations of worker, cultural orientation,
airport procedures and travel tips.

5. Pre-paid Ticket Advice (PTA) – The POEA shall coordinate with
JICWELS for issuance of a pre-paid ticket advice (PTA) for each
selected candidate.

6. Issuance of Travel Exit Pass/OEC – The Government Placement Branch
(GPB) of the POEA shall process the documents of selected candidates
and issue their travel exit clearance to facilitate their departure.

X. DEPLOYMENT

1. The POEA shall coordinate with JICWELS and the POLO for the smooth entry of selected candidates.

2. Upon arrival in Japan, the selected candidates shall be assisted
at the airport by the training facility with which they shall undergo
the 6-month full time language training, in coordination with JICWELS.

XI. AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1. The Employment Branch shall handle registration, validation and pre-qualification of candidates.

2. The Information and Communications Technology Branch (ICT) shall
handle pre-selection of candidates for validation of documents.

3. The Government Placement Branch (GPB) shall handle documentation,
processing and deployment of candidates in coordination with JICWELS and
POLO.

For strict compliance.

Adopted: 13 Jan. 2009

(SGD.) JENNIFER JARDIN-MANALILI
Administrator