帰ってくるJPEPA
JPEPA（日比EPA）の受け入れにエントリーしました。
当苑では現在、海外をルーツに持つ者が15名在籍していますが、そのパイオニアとなったのが日比EPA。
社会福祉法人では2009年の第１バッヂから合格者を輩出してきましたが、当苑ではその2009年以前から留学生としてフィリピンからの学生を受け入れてきた経緯があり、現在も第１、第４、第８バッヂの候補者が勤務を続けています。
最長の者は16年めを迎えており、フィリピン人スタッフの平均在籍期間は10.5年です。
「EPA介護」とは、日本とインドネシア、フィリピン、ベトナムとの間で結ばれている経済連携協定あるいは条約に準じる政府間合意に基づき三ヶ国から外国人介護福祉士候補者を受け入れる制度。
介護・介護分野の労働力不足への対応ではなく、相互の経済活動の連携強化の観点から実施するもので、候補者は受入れ施設で就労しながら国家試験の合格を目指し、その就労は雇用契約であり、日本人と同等以上の報酬を支払う必要があるほか、日本の労働関係法令や社会・労働保険が適用されます。 
国によって異なる要件（現地での教育歴、資格など）を満たした候補者は、訪日前から日本語研修を受け、一定程度の日本後能力を有したところで来日、日本国内でも日本語と介護の研修を受けた後に受け入れ施設でも就労が始まり、受け入れについても介護職員の国家資格者割合、研修計画や責任者の設置などといった要件が課せられています。
第36回介護福祉士国家試験の外国人合格率は43.8％です。
今や受け入れルートは多様化しましたが、JPEPAのルートを失うわけにはいかないと今年度受け入れ事業所として久しぶりにマニラでの現地面接会に行って参ります。
当苑の開国パイオニアであるフィリピンの底力を見つけて来たいと思っています。
レッツ、ボルトイン！！！
We have registered for participation in the JPEPA (Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement) acceptance program.
Currently, 15 members of our facility have overseas roots, and it was through the JPEPA that we welcomed our first pioneers.
Since the first batch of successful candidates from the JPEPA program in 2009, our social welfarecorporation has been engaged in this initiative.
Even before that, we had already been accepting students from the Philippines as international trainees, and today, candidates from the 1st, 4th, and 8th batches are still working with us.
One of our Filipino staff members has now been with us for 16 years, and the average tenure of our Filipino staff is 10.5 years.
“EPA CareWorkers” refers to the system under which Japan accepts foreign caregiver candidates from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam based on bilateral economic partnership agreements or similar government-level accords.
This initiative is not primarily aimed at addressing labor shortages in the caregiving sector, but rather at strengthening mutual economic cooperation.
Under this program, candidates are employed by caregiving facilities while preparing for the national certification exam.
Their employment is based on labor contracts, and they must receive compensation equal to or greater than that of Japanese workers.
Furthermore, Japanese labor laws and social security systems apply equally.
Candidates must meet different eligibility criteria depending on their country of origin, such as educational background and qualifications.
They undergo Japanese language training before arriving in Japan, and after arrival, they continue both language and caregiving training before beginning work at their respective facilities.
Facilities that accept candidates must meet specific requirements, including having a certain percentage of nationally certified care workers on staff, implementing structured training programs, and appointing responsible personnel. In the 36th National Examination for Certified CareWorkers, the pass rate for foreign candidates was 43.8%.
While there are now various pathways for accepting foreign caregivers, we cannot afford to lose the JPEPA route.
This year, we are once again participating in the on-site interview session in Manila as a registered accepting facility.
We are looking forward to witnessing the strength and determination of the Filipino people—the very pioneers of our facility’s international journey.
