About 30 more Filipino caregivers are set to leave for Japan under the Japan-Philippines economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines reported.

The 30 caregivers are among the second batch of Filipinos who undergo intensive language and skills training before the get deployed in hospitals and health institutions in Japan.

“The health workers will initially undergo an onsite language and culture training for six months in five designated language institutions in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Hiroshima before they can start acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills from hospitals or health care facilities in Japan,” according to the statement of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

Just last May, 270 Filipino nurses and caregivers were hired through JPEPA under the framework on the Movement of Natural Persons.

On the other hand, POEA said that Filipino nurses will be allowed to take the Kangoshi (Nursing) Licensure Examination in February 2010.

However, candidate caregivers would still need at least three years of work experience in Japan before they can take the Kaigo-fukushishi (Caregiver) National Certification Examination which will be their passes to continue working in Japan.

Health workers are provided with an allowance during their training. But in case they fail to meet the Japanese standards, they will be sent home immediately.

The JPEPA agreement was signed by the Philippines and Japan in September 2009. Under the agreement, the Japanese market will have greater access to Philippine produce while Japanese exporters will be able to supply certain electronic products to the Philippines at low or zero tariff. Japan, for its part, will then accept Filipino nurses and health care workers.