Utilization of specific skill visas in the restaurant industry-commenting on application requirements, exam outline, and employment points

Restaurant industry and specific skills

The restaurant industry plans to accept the second largest number of foreign human resources in terms of specific skills residence status, after nursing care.
Specified skills are also applicable to work in the restaurant industry for which work visas were not available, so employment opportunities for foreigners in restaurants are expected to expand.

Here, we will explain the application requirements and exam outlines that must be cleared for companies and businesses that are considering the employment of foreigners using specific skills in the restaurant business.
We will also explain in detail the points that employers should pay attention to.

Please use this as a reference when considering employment using a specific skill visa.

Background and prospects for accepting foreigners with specific skills in the food service industry

In today's world, where we are faced with the problem of a shrinking working population, initiatives have begun in the restaurant industry to save labor and reduce costs using the latest technology.
In addition, we are actively recruiting domestic human resources such as women and elderly people.

However, the ratio of effective job openings is “restaurant owner / manager” 12.68 times, “food service person in charge” 7.16 times the seller market, it is an industry where securing human resources is difficult.
In the first half of the year 2018, the vacancy rate is 5.4%, which indicates a labor shortage in companies, and it is more than 2 times the level of all industries, indicating a serious labor shortage.
In this way, even if you try to improve productivity and secure domestic human resources through corporate efforts, this is an industry where labor shortage is expected as before, and the government has taken the lead in expanding foreign human resources.

The number of people expected to eat out in 5 will be up to 5 and 3000.
The restaurant industry is expected to have a labor shortage of 29, and the annual number of 0.5% productivity improvement and the number of acceptance personnel will be set in anticipation of securing further domestic human resources.

According to statistics as of 2017, the number of foreign workers in the food service industry is about 14.3.
そのNearly 7% of foreigners work as part-time workers in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence, such as studying abroad or staying with family members..
The status of residence based on the status of permanent residents also accounts for 2%.

Given that the number of people with professional and technical residence status such as “skills” and “management / management” does not meet 1 percentage, it can be said that the residence status of specific skills will have a large impact on the restaurant business in the future. I will.

Types of work that specific skilled foreigners can work in the food service field and prohibited work

The status of residence for specific skills is for foreigners who have acquired a certain level of skills and knowledge, and the range of work that can be engaged in each industrial field is determined.
The contents of the work permitted by the restaurant business and the non-applicable work are explained below.

▼ Scope of restaurant work permitted and prohibited work for foreigners with specific skills

The food service industry in general includes food and beverage preparation, customer service, and store management.
At the same time, it is permissible to engage in related work that is normally done by Japanese employees, such as raw material procurement / acceptance and delivery work.
Incidental work is limited toincidentallyHowever, it is important to be careful not to let the incidental work become the main work.
In addition, Japanese employees in the same position must also perform incidental work.

Other than restaurants, take-aways and delivery restaurant services also apply to stores.

Until now, in the restaurant business, it was not possible to obtain a workable status of residence for cooking work other than cooking in the hall staff or the foreigner's home country.
Even if it is a specific skill, even store staff can hire foreigners as full-time employees.

It should be noted thatSpecific skilled foreigners are not allowed to work at business offices that operate food and beverage businesses that involve entertainment, such as cabaret clubs and girls bars.It is that.
"Adult entertainment businesses that fall under categories 1, 2, and 3 of the Entertainment Business Law"Business of entertainment, food, etc.Stores that operate `` cannot employ foreigners with specific skill visas, even if they are cooking, serving customers, or managing the store.

Requirements for Foreign Human Resources to Obtain Specific Skills Visas in the Restaurant Industry

Acceptance in the restaurant industry isSpecific skill No. 1 only.No educational background or work history required.
The following 3 points are required of foreigners at the time of application:

• -Being older than 18
• -Must have passed the prescribed Japanese language proficiency test
• -Must have passed the prescribed skill level test

In addition, alumni of skills training 2 can be transferred to specific skills 1 by exam exemption, but as of 2019, there is no acceptance of skills intern in the food service industry.
Skilled training 2018 alumni of “Medical and welfare institution food production” added to the technical training system in 11 and 2 month will be able to shift to specified skill 1 in the food service business in the future.

Japanese Skills and Skills of Specific Skills 1 Required in the Field of Restaurant Industry

We will explain in detail the contents of the Japanese language proficiency test and the technical level test of the specific skill set in the field of the restaurant industry.

▼ Recognized Japanese language exams and required levels

• -Domestic: "Japanese Language Proficiency Test" N4 or higher
• -Overseas: “Japanese Language Proficiency Test” NXNUMX or higher or “Japan Foundation Japanese Language Basic Test”

▼ What is the restaurant industry skill measurement test?

The skill level test in the restaurant industry is "Food service skill measurement testIt will be carried out at.
It is a test to confirm whether you have the knowledge and skills necessary for work such as handling food and drink, cooking and service in consideration of food hygiene.
The exam is conducted in two parts, a department and a practical skill.

[Content example of food service industry skill measurement test]

Department of test

• ・ Sanitary management: About satellite management such as food poisoning, temperature of freezer and cross pollution, satellite management which adopted idea of ​​HACCP
• ・ Food and beverage preparation: ingredients, preparation, knowledge about each cooking method, etc.
• ・ General customer service: Customer service, food allergy, store management, complaint handling etc.

Practical exam

• ・ Judgment test: Judge correct behavior using figures and illustrations
• ・ Planning test: Plan work using a predetermined formula

reference:Foreign Food Industry Skills Evaluation Organization (OTAFF)
The pass mark is 65% or more of the total score, and examinees choose either ``subject-based'' or ``practical-based'' and a gradient distribution is applied.

reference:Japan Food Services Association website
You can download the exam texts in Japanese, English, Vietnamese, Khmer, and Burmese.

▼ Implementation body, date, time, and location of the Japanese language test and technical test for the restaurant industry

The following table summarizes the details of the subjects and methods of each test.

* The first proficiency test for the restaurant industry proficiency test was held on April 1 in Tokyo and Osaka.

Five things to keep in mind when hiring foreigners with specific skills at restaurants and major restaurants

When hiring foreigners with specific skills, there is an obligation that the business operator of the restaurant or restaurant, which is the host organization, must comply.
The following notes on 5 precautions for hiring.

XNUMX. Conditions required of restaurant industry companies that employ us [Joining the council]

First,Receiving agency for specific skillsIt is necessary to meet the standards required for.
In addition, when hiring, you must fulfill the obligations of the host organization.
After that, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries establishesFood Industry Specific Skills CouncilYou need to be a member of.
Please note that there are many accepting organizations that forget to join this council.

Criteria for accepting organizations that employ specific skilled foreigners

• • The employment contract signed with foreigners is appropriate
• • The institution itself is appropriate (no immigration / labor law violation within 5 years, no missing persons within 1 years)
• • There is a system to support foreigners
• • The plan to support foreigners is appropriate

What is the Food Industry Specific Skills Council?

It is an organization that consists of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, related industry organizations, registration support organizations, and other related parties.
We understand the status of foreigners' acceptance, and take notice of fraud prevention and compliance.
In order to employ specific skilled foreigners in the restaurant industry, you need to be a member of the council.
The deadline for joining the council is less than 4 months after the company first accepts certain skilled foreigners.

XNUMX.Specific skills in the restaurant industry can only be hired directly, but cannot be dispatched.

The employment of specified skills foreigners in the restaurant industry is only permitted for direct contracts.
It is not possible to employ specified skill level 1 foreigners in the temporary form..

XNUMX.Full-time employment only & salary level equal to or higher than Japanese

When concluding an employment contract, treat social insurance and work-related accidents in the same way as Japanese people, and do not discriminate on the grounds that they are foreigners.
In addition, Who can apply for a specific skill visa?Full-time employment only.
Meet the prescribed working hours of 5 hours or more, 30 days a weekThere is a need.
Furthermore, it is stipulated that the salary level is equal to or higher than the Japanese who engage in the same work.
If you set a low salary unreasonably, please be aware that your status of residence may not be granted.

1.Employment of specified skill No. 5 foreigners is limited to XNUMX years

The total residence status of Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 isup to 5 yearsstay is only permitted.
In other words, if the restaurant industry hires a foreigner with a specific skill 1, it is 5 that will be allowed to work.
At present, there is no transition from specific skill 1 in the restaurant business to specific skill 2 with no upper limit of stay.
The foreigner will need to consider other possible status of residence or return to his home country at the limit of 5 years.
This is the same for those who have worked in other fields such as long-term care, and although I have worked for long-term care for two years, I have no experience in eating out, so I cannot work for five years.
As a specific skill No. 1, I can only work for a total of 5 years.

XNUMX.What is the support plan that the accepting organization should implement?

When hiring a Foreigner with Specific Skill No. 1, the host organization must formulate and implement an appropriate support plan.
The required support plan includes a total of more than 10 items of support, including pre-arrival guidance, airport transportation, support for securing housing, and provision of information necessary for work and daily life.

[Example of using a specific skill visa in the restaurant business] Under what circumstances can foreigners be hired?

Finally, under what circumstances can a foreigner be hired using a specific skill visa in the food service industry such as restaurants and takeaway specialty stores?
Below are some possible cases.

▼ Promoting vocational school graduates from part-time jobs to full-time positions

Special skills visas can be used to hire foreign nationals who have a status of study abroad or family stay who work as part-time workers as full-time employees.
When working with a status of residence of "College Student" or "Family Stay"Permitting activities outside the status of qualification is required.
The time I can workWithin 28 hours a weekAnd there are restrictions.

Until now, it was not possible to hire foreigners full-time by acquiring a status of residence that allows them to work in store management and customer service.
If it is a specific skill visa, it will be possible to hire a foreign employee who has acquired work experience in a part-time job as a full-time employee.

▼ Mass adoption at major restaurant chains

The status of residence for specific skills can not only be recruited from Japan but also attract foreign talent from abroad.
Therefore, it can be a means to eliminate the labor shortage at major restaurant chains that want to secure a certain number of people.
However, the status of residence for certain skills 1 can only stay in Japan for up to 5 years in total.
It is necessary to make a hiring plan with an increase based on the upper limit of 5 years.

[Summary] Understand the obligations of the accepting organization and hire specified skilled foreigners in the restaurant industry

The number of people expected to receive specific skills foreigners in the restaurant industry is XNUM X years, XNUM X 10,000, X NUM X.
Given the number of workers in the industry expected to be understaffed 29, employment of certain skilled foreigners needs to move quickly.
If the government decides that the number of people will be accepted and the number of foreign personnel will be sufficient, it is possible to stop acceptance.
However, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, it may be difficult to think that it will be stopped because only 1,517 foreigners (as of the end of June 2021) have acquired the specific skill "restaurant business". ..
In addition, implementation of support plans and appropriate employment contracts are the obligations of the host organization.
For small food service providers, the company may be burdened with providing airport transfers and necessary administrative procedures such as administrative procedures.
Working with a registration support organization that can outsource support plans and an administrative scrivener who specializes in visa support is an important point to employ smoothly.

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