[Specific skills] How do you hire foreigners in the hotel business? Comment on visa requirements and exam content

Newly created status of residence"Specific skill No. 1"By utilizing this, employment opportunities for foreigners have been expanded at accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns.
If you pass the exam, you will be able to work for up to 5 years regardless of your academic or professional background. The specific skill No. 1 visa will have a great impact on solving the labor shortage in the accommodation industry.

Here, we will explain the points for hiring foreigners with specific skills No. 1 at accommodation facilities and the contents of the Japanese language / skill evaluation test that foreigners take.

The background to accepting foreigners with specific skill No. 1 at accommodation facilities is the increase in foreigners visiting Japan and labor shortage

First, let's look at the current state of the accommodation industry.
The reasons behind the increased acceptance of foreigners are the demand for accommodation facilities due to the increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan, and the labor shortage due to the decrease in the working population.

The government has set a goal to achieve 2030 visits to foreigners in 6000.
The current level has dropped to the lowest level due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and the accommodation industry as a whole is rather overcrowded due to the fact that there were no spectators at the Olympic Games.
On the other hand, the government has already estimated that there is a labor shortage of 3 people in the industry, and the acquisition of human resources in anticipation of after-corona has already begun.
The predicted labor shortage is still insufficient, even with efforts to improve work efficiency, improve productivity through IT, and promote the employment of women and the elderly.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan in 2018 is 2, 890 million, an increase of about 2013 compared to 3.4.
Given the increase in the number of tourists in the future, it is expected that there will be a labor shortage of 5 people in the next five years.

In response to this labor shortage, the government has set the accommodation industry to accept 5 foreigners with special skills over the next five years.
This number is the 1th largest number in the 14 industrial fields that accept foreigners with specific skill No. 7.
Acceptance is carried out under the jurisdiction of the Japan Tourism Agency of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

What is the scope of work permitted when hiring foreigners at hotels and inns?

When applying for a status of residence, the work content that a foreigner engages in is an important point that determines whether or not a permit is granted.
If you do not fall within the defined business scope, your application may be disapproved, so please check in advance.

▼ Scope of work permitted in the accommodation industry

The business of the accommodation business defined by the status of residence of Specific Skill No. 1 is the following business related to the provision of accommodation services.

• ·front
• ・ Planning and public relations
• ・ Customer service
• ・ Restaurant service, etc.

In addition, it is permissible to carry out related tasks such as selling souvenirs in the accommodation facility and inspecting and exchanging equipment in the facility.
However,It is not allowed to do only related workSo please be careful.

The advantage that the specific skill No. 1 visa brings to the accommodation industry is that the number of foreigners who can obtain a work visa has expanded.
Let's compare the range of residence statuses that allow you to work so far and specific skills in the table.

Until now, only a few people were able to obtain a work visa at an accommodation facility, such as professionals in planning, public relations, or accounting who had a related academic background, or foreign cuisine chefs with advanced skills. Ta.

With the Specific Skill No. 1 visa, it is possible to hire foreigners in the position of field staff.
This will enable us to respond to foreign visitors to Japan by having front desk staff who can speak multiple languages.

▼ Working at accommodation facilities where specific skill No. 1 visa is not accepted

Even in the same accommodation business, there are different types of inn business."Simple lodging business","Boarding house business"Those who fall under the following cannot employ specified skill category 1 foreigners.
reference:: Operational guidelines for accepting foreigners with specific skills related to specific fields

Also, it falls under the Entertainment Business Law.Love hotelYou cannot work in such facilities.
It is stipulated that the confirmation of such a business form is judged by whether the business establishment that employs foreigners has obtained a permit for operating an inn or hotel.

The following is a summary of business types in which the status of residence of Specified Skilled Worker No. XNUMX is not recognized.reference:Business formats to which the status of residence of a specific skill cannot be applied

In addition, it is not possible to have a foreigner with a specific skill perform the "entertainment" stipulated in Article 2, Paragraph 3 of the Customs Business Law.
reference Operational guidelines for accepting foreigners with specific skills related to specific fields

Requirements for foreign workers to obtain a status of residence of Specific Skill No. 1 at an accommodation facility

Acceptance in the accommodation business is only the specific skill 1.
You do not need to have a specific academic background or career, just like any other status of residence you can work with.
What is required is whether the foreigner meets the skill level required by the accommodation industry, and the following three points are required of the foreigner at the time of application.

• ・ Being over 18 years old
• ・ Must have passed the prescribed Japanese Language Proficiency Test
• ・ Must have passed the prescribed skill evaluation test

In addition, although it is stated that graduates of Technical Intern Training No. 1 can transfer to Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 without exam exemption, as of 2019, no technical intern trainees are accepted in the accommodation industry.
In addition, under the recently implemented Specified Skills System, foreigners staying for specified activities (internships) were not allowed to take the skills evaluation test introduced below, but as of 2021, foreigners who are staying legally in Japan are not allowed to take the skills evaluation test introduced below. All foreigners over the age of 18 are eligible to take the exam.

Contents of the Japanese Language Examination and Proficiency Test for Specific Skill No. 1 required in the accommodation industry

We will explain the details of the Japanese language test and skill evaluation test that foreigners must pass when applying for a specific skill visa at the accommodation.

▼ Required Japanese language exams and required levels

Japanese language ability is judged by the following 2 exams.

• -【Overseas】 The Japan Foundation Japanese Language Foundation Test
• -【Domestic / Foreign】 Japanese Proficiency Test (NX NUMX or higher)

▼ What is the accommodation industry skill evaluation test?

For foreigners who wish to work in the Japanese accommodation industry, this exam is a test that measures whether they have the necessary knowledge for business from both writing and practical skills.
General incorporated corporation accommodation skill examination centerHosted by

We have established a minimum line for each subject, with X NUM X% or higher as the pass criteria.
After passing the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test and the Accommodation Skills Measurement Test, foreigners who have an employment contract with a business operator can apply for a status of residence of Specific Skill No. 1.

The first skill measurement test was held on April 2019, 4, and more than 14 foreigners took the test nationwide.

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

reference:General corporate judicial person accommodation business skill examination center

Five points to note when hiring foreigners with Specified Skills No. 1 at accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns

In fact, there are points that companies and organizations that are accepting organizations should be aware of when foreigners are hired with specific skills status at a hotel or inn.

1. Employers join the council (within 1 months after hiring the first foreigner with specific skills)
2. Only direct employment is possible (consignment or dispatch is NG)
3. Employment contract is only permitted for full time staff
4. Up to 5 years of employment (renewal every year)
5. Have an obligation to implement an appropriate support plan

I will explain in detail below.

▼ Conditions required of accommodation business owners (accepting organizations)

In addition to the requirements of the regular host institution, accommodation companies and organizations that accept specific skilled foreigners need to meet the following:

• Running inn business with permission of inn / hotel business
• Joining a conference established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
• Provide the necessary cooperation to the council

Businesses that accept foreigners with specific skills for the first time need to join the council within 4 months after entry of the foreigners.
Incidentally,Since the accepting organization to which the specified skilled foreigner belongs must join the council, membership cannot be entrusted to a registration support organization..

For more information about the council, please contact below.

Contact:

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tourism Industry Division Tourism Human Resources Policy Office

phone:

03-5253-8367

▼ Recruitment in the accommodation industry can only be done through direct employment; temporary employment is not permitted.

In the lodging industry, employment of foreigners with specific skills is closely related to hotels and inns.direct contractOnly accommodations are accepted, so the affiliation will be the accommodation facility.
In the case of acceptance by dispatch, the status of residence of Specific Skill No. 1 cannot be used..

▼ Full-time employment contract: Pay attention to fluctuations in peak seasons

Employment contracts with foreigners who apply for status of residence for specific skills have some points that companies must comply with.

• Specified working time is full time
• That salary level is equal to or higher than Japanese engaged in the same duties
• Do not unfairly discriminate against social insurance and occupational accidents on the grounds that you are a foreigner (safety consideration obligations are naturally the same as those of Japanese people)
• To be able to take paid leave when returning to Japan temporarily (it is possible to exceed the level of Japanese people)

Above all,Specific Skill No. 1 visa is not granted unless the employment contract is full-timePlease note in particular.
As regular working hours5 days or more and 30 hours or more a week is required.
It is not possible to employ foreigners with specific skills on part-time or part-time working hours.

▼ Employment of specified skill No. 1 foreigners must not exceed 5 years

The period of stay for a foreigner with specific skill level 1 isUpper limit.
Foreigners using Specified Skills No. 1 in the accommodation industry can be employed for a maximum of 5 years in total, and must be renewed every year..
After employment for 5, the foreigner must either return to his home country or obtain an appropriate status of residence other than specific skills.
If you are hiring a large number of foreigners, please make a hiring plan based on the five-year stay limit.

▼ What is the support plan that the accepting organization should implement?

When hiring specified skill level 1 foreigners, the accepting organization must take appropriate measures.Support planmust be created and implemented.
The required assistance plans include pre-entry guidance, airport transfers, support for securing a residence, and the provision of information necessary for work and life.
These support plans areIt must be done by the company to which it belongs.

It can be used in such situations!An example of an operation case in which the status of residence of Specific Skill No. 1 is utilized in the accommodation industry

Finally, we will introduce an example of operation that can be expected at accommodation facilities, under what circumstances the status of residence of Specific Skill No. 1 can be utilized.

Case 1. You want to hire multilingual front desk staff at your hotel.

Demand for multilingualism is increasing in tourist destinations as the government still has a tourism-oriented policy.
Being able to support not only English but also languages ​​such as Spanish, Chinese, and Korean, which have many foreign visitors to Japan, is a great advantage as an accommodation facility.
At a hotel or inn you want to hire foreigners who are fluent in language for the front desk staff, you can use the status of residence for specific skills.

Case 2: We would like to invite staff working at overseas hotels of group companies to Japan.

The specific skill visa can be used not only for foreigners who are already resident in Japan but also for attracting foreigners from overseas after completing the technical intern training or passing the exam.
"I would like to hire staff working at overseas local hotels of group companies at hotels in Japan for several years."
"I want to call in for a certain period of time for training."
Even in these situations, a specific skill visa can be used.

Case 3: We would like to hire a foreigner who is familiar with a specific country in public relations to attract foreigners visiting Japan.

Employment of marketing staff, such as public relations and planning, can also use specific skill visas.
When attracting foreigners from overseas, if you have foreigners who are familiar with the local situation, it will be possible to plan more attractive package tours and devise advertising methods.

Summary: Utilization of specific skill No. 1 for the accommodation industry is an opportunity to solve the labor shortage

The status of residence of Specific Skill No. 1 has a great advantage for businesses operating the accommodation business in that it can be used in the scope of work for which a workable visa could not be obtained.
"I would like to hire staff who can speak multiple languages ​​in preparation for the increasing number of foreign visitors to Japan."
"I want to hire a part-time international student who works in the field as a full-time employee."
"I want to hire local staff to attract customers from overseas."
In such cases, you can utilize Specific Skill No. 1.
However, when hiring foreigners with specific skills, we must not forget the obligations required of the host company.
Make sure you understand the content of the employment contract and implementation of the support plan before hiring.