- Extra 148 technical trainees from Indonesia, in addition to those already recruited from the Philippines and Vietnam.
- Newly legalized Specified Skills worker status added to Technical Intern Training Program, enabling us to provide stable and high-quality service with the expertise and skills of foreign mechanics
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC; headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President and CEO Hartmut Schick) announced that 148 additional technical interns from Indonesia for automobile repair and maintenance work as part of the technical intern program will be hired.
After automobile repair and maintenance work was added to the technical intern program on April 1, 2016, MFTBC began hiring foreign trainees in October 2016. At this time (end of June 2019), 157 trainees from Vietnam and the Philippines are undergoing technical training at various locations across Japan. In addition to this, 148 new technical trainees from Indonesia are to be hired. To be deployed across Japan, 43 trainees will start their training on July 1, and the remaining 105 on October 1.
The technical intern training program was established in 1993 with the aim of facilitating the transfer of skills and knowledge to developing countries by accepting their citizens for on-the- job training in Japanese industry. On April 1, 2016, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare added automobile repair and maintenance work to the job categories under technical intern training (ii), which trainees who have completed technical intern training (i) are eligible to pursue. The Act on Amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Ministry of Justice Establishment Law, which establishes a new residency status called “Specified Skills” worker*1 (granting the extension of residency up to 5 years) came into effect on April 1, 2019.
MFTBC provides continued employment to trainees wishing to advance to “Specified Skills 1” after completing the 3-year program of technical intern training (i) and (ii)*2.
Through the technical intern training program, MFTBC will support the transfer overseas of Japan’s high-quality skills in vehicle testing and maintenance. It will also develop global human resources with expertise in vehicle repair and maintenance, thereby promoting sophisticated repair and maintenance skills in regions centering on Asia. With the addition of “Specified Skills 1”, we expect that trainees in that category will serve as highly valued mechanics providing customer service of superior quality.
*1. Trainees who undertake Automobile Repair and Maintenance jobs are not eligible to apply for “Specified Skills 2”, which grants an unlimited stay in Japan.
*2. Trainees who have not completed both technical intern training (i) and (ii) need to pass either the “Automobile Repair and Maintenance Specified Skills Assessment Test [tentative name]” (written test + performance test) OR the “Third Grade Automobile Mechanic Skills Assessment Test” (written test + performance test), as well as the Japan Foundation’s Japanese Language Basic test or Japanese Language Proficiency Test N4 or higher.
SOURCE: MITSUBISHI FUSO
