1Sending Organizations Under the Technical Intern Training Program

• 1.A sending organization under the new program is an organization that can mediate job applications relating to technical intern training from persons who wish to become technical intern trainees on behalf of supervising organizations in Japan and satisfy the requirements set forth in Article 25 of the regulations.

• 2.

  Foreign sending organization requirements specified in Article 25 of the regulations (summary)

  • ・The organization received a recommendation from a public body in the country or region where it is located.
  • ・The organization understands the intent of the program and can appropriately select and send candidates.
  • ・The organization has clearly established and discloses calculation standards regarding fees and so on collected from technical intern trainees and others and is able to clarify those standards to and obtain full understanding by technical intern trainees.
  • ・The organization provides necessary support including job placement for technical intern trainees who have competed the program (returnees).
  • ・The organization complies with requests from the Minister of Justice, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, or the Organization for Technical Intern Training regarding follow-up surveys and protection of technical intern trainees.
  • ・The sending organization and its officers have not been subject to imprisonment or more serious criminal penalty for violation of the laws of Japan or the country where it is located within the past five years.
  • ・

    The sending organization and its officers have not committed the following acts within the past five years:

    • –Managing the monies or other assets of technical interns or their families, whether designated as the collection of deposits or otherwise (confirmation shall be made with technical intern trainees that such handling is not performed);
    • –Executing agreements that provide for monetary penalties or inappropriate transfers or monies or other assets with regard to non-performance of technical intern training agreements (confirmation shall be made with technical intern trainees that such handling is not performed); and
    • –Acts that infringe on the human rights of technical intern trainees or use of forged or altered documents.
  • ・The organization conducts operations in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country or region where it is located.
  • ・ The organization has other capabilities necessary to perform mediation.

2Matters Requiring Particular Attention under the Technical Intern Training Program

• 1.Receiving kickbacks is prohibited.

In cases where a supervising organization receives monies other than supervision fees from a sending organization or other person, this constitutes a violation of Article 28 of the Technical Intern Training Act. Such conduct is grounds for cancellation of the supervising organization’s license and is subject to imprisonment of up to six months and fines of up to 300,000 yen.

• 2.Brokering activities are a violation of the Technical Intern Training Program.

The public comments provided the following interpretation: “Although it depends on the interpretation of brokering, in cases where an unlicensed organization performs supervision operations (referrals for the establishment of employment relationships between implementing organizations and technical intern trainees and so on and performs supervision of the conduct of training by implementing organizations), this constitutes the conduct of unlicensed supervision operations and is subject to guidance and supervision pursuant to law.” Also, consulting with the Organization for Technical Intern Training is recommending when conducting brokering in third countries.

• 3.Application forms that require the signatures of a technical intern trainee must also be prepared in the trainee’s native language

Pursuant to Article 68 of ordinances of the competent ministries require that applications and other forms with the signature of a technical intern trainee (curriculum vitae, employment contract, written employment conditions, written explanation of important matters relating to treatment, written declarations, written statement of expanses paid in the home country relating to preparation, etc.) also be prepared in the trainee’s native language. The Organization for Technical Intern Training website has documents in Japanese and other languages, and it is recommended that supervising organizations instruct sending organizations to use these documents.

3Conclusion of MOC and Subsequent Procedures

• 1.The sending organizations of each country are posted on the Organization for Technical Intern Training website after the passage of a certain period following the conclusion of Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC). Following public notice, the supervising organization licensing procedures were simplified. (Refer to Chapter 5, Section 2, Part 6, page 183 of the Technical Intern Training Operating Guidelines.)
• 2.After the passage of a certain period following the announcement of sending organizations, sending technical intern trainees by organizations other than accredited sending organizations will no longer be possible.

• ■Schedule for Memoranda of Cooperation

MOC are planned to be concluded with each country in stages. Refer to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website for the most recent information (here).

4Sending Countries and Sending Organization Information

List of Countries that Have Concluded MOC with Japan

• *1: Record of Discussion was concluded with JITCO on April 26, 2010, under the old Technical Intern Training Program.
• *2: Record of Discussion was concluded with JITCO on March 31, 2010, under the old Technical Intern Training Program.
• *3: Record of Discussion was concluded with JITCO on April 21, 2010, under the old Technical Intern Training Program.

5Periodic Consultations, etc.

JITCO holds periodic consultations with government liaisons and organizations of countries that have concluded R/D listed in 4: Sending Countries and Sending Organization Information, to facilitate the dispatch and acceptance of technical intern trainees.

List of Periodic Consultations