KYOTO, Japan? Indonesian ambassador
to Japan, Jusuf Anwar, has expressed sorrow for the exceedingly
rigid Japanese national examinations for foreign nurses and
caregivers. Only 2 Indonesian nationals, who took the examinations,
passed and become certified nurses out of 500 takers in 2008 and
2009.
The Indonesian ambassador presented
this matter at the "First Public Forum on Indonesia" held
on July 23, 2010 at the Kyoto University Center for Southeast Asian
Studies.
According to Anwar the main problem is the "kanji"
character proficiency part of the tests. Furthermore, nurses who
failed their exams on the third try are required to leave the country
ASAP.
Tokyo government introduced the examination in line with the
Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJ-EPA), a
prerequisite on letting foreign nurses and caregivers to practice
their profession in Japan. The IJ-EPA came into fruition in 2008,
now, Ambassador Anwar criticizes and doubts the usefulness of the
agreement unless the examination to be taken by the participants be
made less rigorous to enable more Indonesian nurses and caregivers to
qualify.
The Indonesian Ambassador pointed out that, instead of
concentrating on the "kanji" writing skills of the nurses,
it would be better to shift the focus on the competence and technical
abilities of the examinees. And rather than immediately terminating
the employment of the ones who failed the examination, Anwar urges
the Japanese government to allow these people to let them stay and
work for at least one year.
Philippine Nurses Also Have the Same Sentiments as
Indonesian Nationals.
In early 2009, the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced that
Japan was set to employ 1,000 foreign nurses and caregivers over the
next two years as long as they can pass the language proficiency
examination.
Since the Philippine program started last year, only one Filipino
successfully passed the Japanese tests.
Japan Today reported in May 2010 that another set of 116 Filipino
nurses and caregivers left for Japan. These batch will undergo a
six-month language and cultural course after a screening program
described as more difficult by the POEA.
The Filipinos will receive a monthly allowance of $400 during the
training program. Passing the Japanese certification and becoming
regular nursing or caregiver staff would mean getting a salary of
$1,600 or more a month.
Both nursing associations of the two countries (Philippines and
Indonesia), signified disapproval with their respective EPAs with
regard to employing of nurses and caregivers to work in Japan
Dr. Leah Samaco-Paquiz, president of the Philippine Nurses
Association (PNA), issued a position paper early 2007 saying that
the JPEPA ?shortchanges the professional qualifications of Filipino
nurses and exposes them to potential abuse and discrimination.?
According to Dr. Paquiz, even the Japan Nursing Association calls
for reforms and improvements in their Japan's nursing system in terms
of salaries, benefits, and improvement of working conditions of
Japanese nurses before Japan allows entry of Filipino nurses.
Dr Paquiz also added that under the IJ-EPA Indonesian nurses "got
a better deal" compared to the Filipino nurses. Indonesian
nurses are required to have only 3 years of formal nursing education
and two years work experience. Furthermore, they are not required to
pass Indonesian licensure examination before they are allowed entry
into Japan. Unfortunately, Filipino nurses are obligated to have had
4 years of formal nursing school, three years of work experience, and
licensure examination in the Philippines.
However, PNA's utmost complaint zeroes in on the debasement of the
Filipino nurses' position since they will end up simply as trainees
under the supervision of a Japanese nurse for up to 3 years until
they pass the Japanese licensure examination, despite having 4 years
of higher education, passing the licensure examination in the
Philippines, and three years of work experience.
Furthermore, Filipinos may also have zero employment rights in
Japan since they are considered neither employees nor workers under
Japans Immigration Control Act, Dr. Paquiz added. Also absent in the
agreement are specific provisions committing Japan to international
core labor standards and the protection of the rights of migrant
health workers.
Like their Indonesian counter part, Filipinos also decried the
high language skills requirement making it quite difficult for nurses
to pass the entry exams.
According to observers, Japan's decision to allow foreign nurses
and caregivers to be certified to practice their profession in Japan
is due to the country's rapidly aging population and lack of
competent professionals that would care for the Japanese elderly.
According to the Japan Times report, more senior Japanese are left
to take care of themselves and many die alone in their residences. In
Tokyo alone, the paper said that,?People over 65 who died alone in
their home, including by suicide, stood at 2,211 in 2008, compared
with 1,364 in 2002.?
The Japanese Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry has refuted any
link between ?certifying foreign caregivers? and ?the manpower
shortage in health care.? This is contradicted, however, by a
health ministry survey quoted by the Times that reveals ?about 60
percent of hospitals and about 50 percent of welfare facilities that
have accepted Indonesian candidates (say) they offered them jobs
hoping to improve staff levels.?