JITCO

On October 5, JITCO visited Viet Nam and held a meeting with officials from the Department of Overseas Labor (DOLAB) in the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). JITCO reported that the recent financial crisis had affected businesses across Japan, reducing employment. The number of new trainees accepted by Japanese organizations had therefore decreased from the previous year despite measures taken by JITCO. Regarding the newly revised training program, JITCO explained that: 1) a new status of residence, technical intern training, was added; 2) interns sign employment contracts and are thus legally protected by Japanese labor laws after two months of training; and, 3) accepting organizations' responsibilities are more strictly enforced. DOLAB asked JITCO about the system's details such as required minimum wages, and JITCO provided answers.

After the meeting with DOLAB, JITCO officials visited the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. JITCO spoke to the Minister on the increased number of Vietnamese trainees sent to Japan in recent years, as well as their remarkable excellence in training. The Minister acknowledged and thanked JITCO and accepting organizations for all their cooperation, and expressed the hope that more Vietnamese trainees would be accepted in the future.

Seminars for sending organizations were held in Hanoi on October 6, and then in Ho Chi Minh on October 9. With DOLAB present, 122 officials from 65 sending organizations attended the seminar in Hanoi, and 60 officials from 28 sending organizations in Ho Chi Minh. After remarks from both JITCO and DOLAB, JITCO representatives gave lectures on revisions in the training program. JITCO also provided reminders on proper trainee-sending operations. In the Q&A sessions, representatives from sending organizations asked questions enthusiastically, and JITCO provided answers.

Annual Meeting

Center Right: Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

Center Left: JITCO President Shotaro Tochigi

Seminar in Hanoi