Hiring specified skilled foreigners in the field of building cleaning-conditions, work content, examination

The building cleaning field, which cleans the inside of a building, is one of the industrial fields for which the status of residence for specific skills has been granted.
In the building cleaning industry, labor shortages are pointed out every year, and it is expected that the acceptance of foreigners will improve the hiring situation of companies.
In this section, we will explain the necessary conditions, the content of the accepted tasks, and the required exams when hiring foreigners in the building cleaning field.

Background and prospects for accepting foreigners with specific skills in the building cleaning field

In the field of building cleaning of specific skills, the government willIt is expected to accept 37,000 foreigners.
In the same industry, we are promoting the development of cleaning machines and the spread of robots to improve productivity and promoting employment promotion for women and the elderly, but the labor shortage has not been resolved.

The ratio of job openings to job openings reaches 2017 by the year 2.95, and there is concern that the building's health may deteriorate and users' health may be impaired if the labor shortage continues.
Building cleaning has also been the subject of technical training since 2017.
However, as this alone can not cope with the labor shortage, the status of residence of certain skills opened a window to new foreigners.

The government may stop accepting certain skilled foreigners in the building cleaning sector if the expected number is reached within 5 years.

With building cleaning business recognized by residence status of specific skill

The "Operational Policy" announced by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare sets forth the building cleaning business permitted by specific skills as follows.

Cleaning in the building

Cleaning work for the purpose of protecting a sanitary environment, maintaining aesthetics, ensuring safety and improving conservation, and work that eliminates environmental pollutants present in buildings and maintains cleanliness.

In addition, when engaging in special skills foreigners in radiation work at a nuclear power plant conducted by TEPCO, based on guidelines on safety and health management measures, carefully consider the findings and report the results to the MHLW. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is giving notice.

▼ Reference
Occupational Safety and Health for Specified Skilled Foreign Workers at TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Conditions necessary for foreigners to obtain a specific skills visa in the building cleaning sector

Building cleaning field is only allowed for certain skills 1.There is no application for 2.
Therefore, foreigners with a specific skill of residence can work.Up to 5 years.

In the building cleaning field, as in other industrial fields, the following 3 points are the basic application conditions.

• ● Must be 18 years or older
• ● Must have passed the prescribed Japanese Language Proficiency Test
• ● Must have passed the prescribed skill evaluation test

Below is a description of the Japanese exam and the proficiency test.

▼ Japanese language exams recognized in the building cleaning field and required levels

In the building cleaning field, you have to pass the following Japanese exam to get status of residence.

Domestic

"Japanese Language Proficiency Test" N4 or higher

foreign

"Japanese Language Proficiency Test" N4 or higher or "Japan Foundation Japanese Language Basic Test"

The "Japanese Language Proficiency Test" or the "National Foundation Japan Basic Japanese Language Test" will check whether you can have some daily conversation and have a sufficient level of Japanese language skills.

▼ What is the building cleaning field specific skill No. 1 evaluation test?

Skill evaluation test in the field of building cleaningBuilding Cleaning Field Specific Skill XNUM X Evaluation TestIs used.

this is,Japan Building Maintenance AssociationIs the practical test that will be conducted by
It will be held in Japanese and will be held in Japan and overseas after the fall of 2019.
Make sure that you have the technology to perform cleaning work using appropriate methods and detergents inside a building with a large number of users.

▼ Personnel who are exempt from exams in the building cleaning field

In the technical training, building cleaning job type XNUM alumni can transfer to specific skill 2 by skill evaluation examination exemption.
In addition, foreigners who are in the following positions in Japan can not take the Skill Assessment Test.

【Foreigners who can not take the skill evaluation test】

• ● International students who have been expelled or removed from school
• ● The disappeared technical intern trainee
• ● Status of residence "Specific activities (application for refugee recognition)"
• ● Practicing with the status of residence "Technical Intern Training"

Requirements for receiving organization in the field of building cleaning

Companies and organizations that accept foreigners with specific skills (host organization) are required to comply with the following points.

• ● Must be registered as a “building cleaning business” or “building environmental hygiene general management business”
• ● Join the Building Cleaning Field Specific Skills Council
• ● To provide necessary cooperation in investigations and guidance when requested by the council.

▼ What is the Building Cleaning Field Specific Skills Council?

The Building Cleaning Field Specified Skills Council was established to share information regarding the acceptance of specified skilled foreigners and system operation, and to aim for smooth operations.
It is organized by the following members.

• ● Ministry of Justice Immigration Bureau of Japan
• ● National Police Agency Criminal Bureau Organized Crime Countermeasures Department
• ● Consular Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• ● Employment Security Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
• ● Specified Skills Affiliated Organization (Limited to organizations that currently accept No. 1 Specified Skills Foreigners)
• ● National Building Maintenance Association
• ● Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Pharmaceutical and Living Hygiene Bureau, Living Hygiene Division (Secretariat)

reference:"About establishment of building cleaning field specific skill council"

In addition, depending on the situation, the council requests the following cooperation from the host organization.

• ● Overall understanding of the situation regarding the acceptance of foreigners with specific skills
• ● Response when a problem occurs
• ● Enlightenment of legal compliance
• ● Support for changing jobs for foreigners with specific skills in the event of bankruptcy of the institution to which they belong
• ● Understanding and analyzing information on changes in employment structure and changes in economic conditions, etc.

reference:"Policy on the operation of the system related to the status of residence of specific skills in the building cleaning field'
⇒ Go to the Building Cleaning Field Specific Skills Council membership application page

For proper operation, the host organization should hire foreigners after understanding their obligations.

▼ In addition, here are the employment conditions that the host organization should protect
What is the receiving organization for specific skills? Standards and obligations to hire foreigners on specific skills visas

▼ Click here for the support plan (support) that should be given to specific skills 1 foreigners
What is a registration support organization? | Necessary requirements for registration and support plan contents for specific skills 1

Summary: The receiving organization should set up a system before the start of operation

Acceptance of specific skilled foreigners in the building cleaning field has not been implemented since the skills evaluation test has not been conducted as of 2019 summer.
Companies considering foreign employment should firmly understand the system required by the host organization, the employment conditions to be protected, the support plan to be implemented as an obligation, and prepare the corporate environment.