Latest news with #SSW
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Truck, Bus, Taxi Companies in Japan Hiring More Foreigners to Ease Shortages
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Dang Thanh Binh, who is to be hired as a taxi driver with the resident status of specified skills worker by Keihin Kohtsu-Taxi, shows a textbook for his studies to work in Japan. Trucks, buses and taxis driven by foreign drivers will be seen across the nation from this fiscal year. This is because the automobile transportation industry has been added to the list of categories for the specified skilled worker (SSW) status of residence in order to address the shortage of Japanese drivers. However, there are concerns among customers such as whether foreign drivers with SSW visas will drive safely and whether they speak Japanese. To address these concerns, companies hiring foreign drivers have begun taking measures such as providing training for them on a continual basis. SSW is a status of residence established in 2019 to accept foreign workers in industries facing labor shortages. In March 2024, the government approved a Cabinet decision to add four additional industries including the automobile transportation industry. 'Safety first' 'I look forward to going to Japan. I would like to be a driver who puts safety first.' Dang Thanh Binh from Hanoi, 33, said in fluent Japanese with a smile on his face. He was hired by the Kawasaki-based taxi company Keihin Kohtsu-Taxi and is coming to Japan this summer. In an online interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, he talked about his enthusiasm for the job. Dang studied in Japan for three years. To become an SSW driver, he passed the necessary tests including the Japanese language proficiency test required to obtain a status of residence. After coming to Japan, he will switch his local driver's license to a Japanese one and attend a driving school to obtain a Class 2 driver's license. He aims to make his debut as a driver around autumn. The company has approximately 220 taxis and needs more than 350 drivers to fully operate them. However, the company currently has about 300 drivers and their average age is in the mid-60s. Under such circumstances, the company has found it difficult to secure enough drivers in Japan. Since last summer, Shinichi Fukuoka, the head of the company's operations department, has been interviewing applicants in Vietnam. The company then decided to accept the first group of new foreign hires. They are expected to face many challenges in their jobs as drivers, such as understanding place names and communicating with passengers. In addition to providing them with training in traffic laws and regulations, driving techniques and customer service as needed, the company is considering introducing a system in which passengers enter their destinations by voice on an electronic terminal, which is then reflected in the car navigation system. Fukuoka said: 'Safe driving is the top priority. We will instruct foreign drivers to avoid violations and accidents and support them in their daily lives, too. Labor shortages Driving has been added to the list of skills in SSW because of the serious labor shortage in the industry. The government plans to accept up to 24,500 foreign drivers by fiscal 2028. Many companies are now working to hire foreign drivers. The Osaka-based major moving company Sakai Moving Service Co. will accept 30 Indonesian truck driver candidates who will come to Japan around August. The company plans to train them in driving and moving techniques in Indonesia. After they arrive in Japan, they will be trained in the same way as Japanese employees, according to the company. Local governments and driving schools have also begun providing support for foreigners. TDG Holdings, a company based in Mie Prefecture that operates driving schools in Mie and other prefectures, offers services that cover everything from local hiring of foreign drivers and applications for their residence status to driving skill training and daily life support. Several major logistics companies are using the services. Meanwhile, the city of Sapporo – where bus services have been reduced and some routes have been terminated – has been working with bus companies and other organizations since April to subsidize half of living expenses and tuition fees as well as the cost of obtaining a Class 2 driver's license for international students who study in Japan and wish to become SSW drivers. Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Shinichi Fukuoka, the head of the operations department at Keihin Kohtsu-Taxi, talks about his expectations of foreign drivers in Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama, on May 13. Companies held responsible The biggest challenge in fully accepting foreign drivers is how to ensure safe driving. 'Since a truck is driven by one person, it is difficult to have Japanese employees supervise foreign drivers. We are ready to incur additional costs to make sure they drive safely,' said Takuta Shinbara, representative of Hub and Spoke Logistics, a transportation company in Saitama Prefecture aiming to employ Filipino drivers. Recently, the test for converting driver's licenses from other countries has been called into question in the Diet and other places as being too easy, and discussions are underway to make the test stricter. Since foreign drivers with SSW visas are required to obtain a Class 2 driver's license or other types of driver's license, they have far more professional skills than those with converted driver's licenses. Even so, there is concern that SSW drivers could cause confusion due to their inexperience in case of accidents or disasters. Attorney Shoichi Ibusuki, who is familiar with foreign labor issues, said: 'Not only are there conventional labor issues involving foreign workers such as work-related accidents, but drivers are also at risk of becoming perpetrators. For that, it is important that each company be responsible for the training and education of foreign drivers.' 'The government will need to regularly examine the situation of accidents, violations and the working environment, disclose the information and check the system on a consistent basis,' he added.
Japan Forward
7 days ago
- Business
- Japan Forward
From India, Soft Power Punching Harder With Opportunity and Skill
Global labor migration has recently gained immense traction, with many countries experiencing labor shortages. In the current geopolitical landscape, there has been a rise in the international demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while addressing an event in India, emphasized that there is a global demand and a corresponding availability in India. This article explores the potential India-Japan match in the domain of legal labor migration. The Time Is Ripe Across Europe, Japan, the Gulf, and other countries, there is a rising labor shortage. This expected shortfall in workers is expected to grow to nearly 50 million by 2030, and even further over the next two decades, possibly reaching 250 million in 25 years. Moreover, the rate at which this shortage is growing, approximately 11–12% annually, is outpacing the economic growth of these countries. Nearly 20 major countries will account for 90% of this global labor gap, including Japan, with approximately 2–3 million. This offers an economic and developmental opportunity for emerging economies like India, as in many cases, a worker can earn ten times more just by crossing a border. What do the Current Statistics Say India is emerging as the bright spot in the migration domain. As per the Global Access to Talent from India (GATI), around 34 million people of Indian origin currently live and work abroad. India also sends around 700,000 workers overseas annually, with 60% going to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. Given the current global trends, Japan could also be a higher potential destination. In 2024, the number of foreign workers in Japan alone surged by 250,000 in a year, reaching 2.3 million in October. This marked the largest year-on-year increase since records began in 2008. As a result, foreigners now account for 3-4% of the total workforce. In terms of overall foreign worker distribution in Japan, manufacturing employs the most, with 590,000. It is followed by the service industry at 350,000 and wholesale and retail at 290,000. Additionally, the number of foreigners in Japan's Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program climbed by 49.4% to 200,000 in 2024. The number of participants in the Technical Intern Training program, which brings relatively unskilled workers to the country to acquire new skills, increased by 14.1% to 470,000. According to the 2024 Immigration Services Agency data, out of 48,835 Indians in Japan, 230 Indians are on the SSW. (Courtesy of the World Bank) New Priority From Japan Japan is actively recruiting skilled foreign professionals with competitive salaries, job security, and streamlined visa policies. Engineers, researchers, and STEM graduates are highly valued, and companies provide long-term career growth opportunities. In 2023 alone, over 50,000 foreign professionals, including many Indians, were hired in Japan's IT sector. Offering a refreshing change, with a simplified work visa process for skilled professionals, permanent residency available in just 1–5 years, and government-backed relocation support, demand is expected to continue growing. The Japan-India Match Japan favored local long-term suppliers and did not follow international technological standards for a long time. However, the demographic shifts suggest that around 37.5% of the population will be 65 years or above by 2050, creating imbalances in unskilled and skilled labor markets. Tokyo can no longer afford such hefty barriers to becoming globally flexible. In a recent meeting, the Indian External Affairs Minister and the Japanese Ambassador discussed an action plan to establish a predictable and concrete flow of Indian talent into Japan under the Special Skilled Workers agreement. The intention on both sides is to open more legal migration pathways. This follows Japan's establishment of a new status of residence, "Specified Skilled Worker" in 2019, to welcome capable foreign specialists to work in specific fields. These specialists would function as workers ready to take on jobs without prior training. Consistent with this approach, Japan had signed Specified Skilled Worker Memoranda of Cooperation with 15 countries as of 2022, including India in 2021. Categories of Specified Skills This residency status is intended for foreign nationals who are 18 years old or above and possess considerable knowledge or experience in a specific sector. Sixteen occupations are covered under the SSW, including nursing care, aviation industry, accommodation industry, agriculture, fishery and aquaculture, building cleaning management, machine parts and tooling, industrial machinery, electric and electronics industries, construction industry, shipbuilding and ship machinery industry, automobile repair and maintenance, manufacture of food and beverages, and food service industry. Currently, individuals can stay for a maximum of 5 years in total. Additionally, a six-month apprenticeship visa for Indians is being broadened to include new job categories in Japan. One of several categories of specified skilled workers is the hospitality industry. (©Ministry of Foreign Affairs) The Indian Sweet Spot India has signed migration and mobility partnerships, as well as specialized worker agreements, with 52 countries. Recently, the government announced it is set to amend the Emigration Act of 1983 to better align India with the demands of the modern global workforce. Indian EAM Jaishankar also recently referred to the growing intake of Indian professionals in ongoing worker movements. The country has a surplus of skilled and semi-skilled labor, a relatively young population, and a stable economic foundation. Indian talent is generally well-regarded globally. India's annual labor exports could grow from 700,000 to 2.5 million workers. That alone could add around $300 USD billion to the country's gross domestic product through remittances. Skill development remains a key sector of collaboration that accentuates India-Japan industrial competitiveness. Currently, the joint-government initiatives for skilling manufacturing-related human resources in India include 35 Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing and 11 Japanese-endowed courses. There are more than 300 Japanese language institutes and around 60 engineering colleges offering Japanese as a foreign language. In Delhi alone, 58 government schools now offer Japanese as a language option. Private language institutes are also growing in number. Bringing Together Supply and Demand Japanese manufacturing practices such as 5S, Kaizen, and others, are also upgrading soft skills like discipline and work culture of Indian human resources in the manufacturing sector in India. However, sending more Japanese teachers to India, opening up new categories under SSW and additional test centers in India, sharing the trade test syllabus/curriculum, and holding SSW-related tests online would go a long way in scaling up these initiatives. Visa harmonization and signing a migration and mobility agreement, which India has signed with several other countries, are the natural progression of cooperation. These also testify to how closely the two countries are working towards a common goal. Another category of specified skilled workers is the aviation industry. (©Ministry of Foreign Affairs) In related initiatives, the recently launched GATI Foundation also helps bridge the demand-supply mismatch in the semi-skilled workforce. It supports the legal and structured migration of Indian workers to international labor markets facing aging populations and declining workforce numbers. This should help strengthen India's labor supply with a long-term migration ecosystem. Areas for Further Coordination Nonetheless, matching workers to opportunities requires better coordination between countries. Concerns of a black economy in migration that undermines both individuals and nations still need attention. For example, past issues have arisen with evacuations, cases of wage theft, unfair employment practices, limited recognition of Indian qualifications abroad, lack of support for returning migrants, unresolved exploitation risks, and loss of documentation. A mechanism to resolve those, along with language and soft-skills programs tailored for customer-facing sectors, would be a game-changer in countries like Japan. Additionally, efforts are underway to build community support structures overseas and align Indian certification systems with global standards. Simultaneously, these should help create legal pathways to prevent any irregular migration. In an era of disruptive technologies, India must adapt its skilling strategy to be more responsive and inclusive of global demand. Newer areas should be targeted, including green jobs, infrastructure, and startup roles related to sustainability. Private investment should also be encouraged to expand training infrastructure. Conclusion As more Indians move abroad, their expectations of government support will grow. Clearly, there is a need for legal and safe migration to ease global labor shortages and economic pressures. Skilled migration is a priority for all major countries, and India can potentially be part of the solution to the Japanese demography problem. In particular, hiring a talented and skilled workforce would open new vistas for India's social, educational, and cultural connection with Japan. Connecting skills in India with opportunities in Japan is just the latest avenue to deepen ties and strengthen the soft power diplomacy between the two countries. This phenomenon is expanding opportunities for Indian workers in Japan, and India must seize the day. RELATED: Author: Varuna Shankar Varuna Shankar is an editorial manager at India's World, an online magazine.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
National Weather Service releases damage survey results from Colorado tornadoes
DENVER (KDVR) — The National Weather Service released results from a damage survey Wednesday after a tornado event occurred in the plains to the south and east of Denver on Sunday, May 18. The NWS said it tracked four separate tornadoes on Sunday. The first and last tornadoes to appear were deemed 'uncharacteristically strong landspouts,' while the second and third tornadoes were more strongly associated with a parent storm, known as a supercell. How strong was that tornado? How the EF scale works Three of the tornadoes were classified as EF2s and the other as an EF1. The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into categories based on wind speeds, including: EF0: 65 to 85 mph EF1: 86 to 110 mph EF2: 111 to 135 mph EF3: 136 to 165 mph EF4: 166 to 200 mph EF5: 200 mph and over Estimated peak wind: 125 mph Path length: 0.94 miles Path width: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start: 1:07 p.m., May 18. 6 SSW Oea Building, Elbert County. Latitude/Longitude: 39.5584, -104,6226 End: 1:12 p.m., May 18. 5 SSW Oea Building, Arapahoe County. Latitude/Longitude: 39.5693, -104,6123 What is Colorado's most commonly misspelled wurd? Estimated peak wind: 95 mph Path length: 2.53 miles Path width: 75 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start: 1:23 p.m., May 18. 2 NE Oea Building, Arapahoe County. Latitude/Longitude: 39.6614, -104.5519 End: 1:32 p.m., May 18. 4 SSW Manila Village, Arapahoe County. Latitude/Longitude: 39.6917, -104.527 Estimated peak wind: 125 mph Path length: 5.09 miles Path width: 200 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start: 1:30 p.m., May 18. 3 SSE Manila Village, Arapahoe County. Latitude/Longitude: 39.7191, -104.4848 End: 1:46 p.m., May 18. 1 NMW Bennett, Adams County. Latitude/Longitude: 39.7706, -104.4394 Estimated peak wind: 112 mph Path length: 4.62 miles Path width: 400 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start: 1:40 p.m., May 18. 2 NNE Bennett, Adams County. Latitude/Longitude: 39.7838, -104.4074 End: 1:55 p.m., May 18. 6 NNE Bennett, Adams County. Latitude/Longitude: 39.8397, -104.379 The NWS said that this data is preliminary and may change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Asahi Shimbun
16-05-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
New foreign worker program to limit transfers to urban centers
A government expert panel meets on Feb. 6 in Tokyo to discuss the upcoming migrant worker program. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) The government has outlined measures to prevent an excessive concentration of foreign workers in major urban areas under a new system that will replace the much-criticized technical trainee program. The Employment for Skill Development (ESD) program, which will start in April 2027, will allow foreign workers to stay in Japan for three years. Unlike the 30-year-old Technical Intern Training program, the ESD system will allow workers to change jobs within the same industry after one to two years, offering greater flexibility and an improved work environment. However, concerns have risen that the workers will flock to urban areas with higher wage levels, leaving rural regions understaffed. The government's draft regulations will introduce transfer limits for eight of the nation's most populous prefectures: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Aichi, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo. Under the regulations, such job changers can make up no more than one-sixth of the foreign workforces at businesses in these prefectures, unless they are located in depopulated communities. Businesses in other prefectures will be allowed to employ up to three times the standard number of foreign workers if the employers and their supervisors display a high standard in supporting the workers and their Japanese language training. Additionally, employers and supervisors will be required to provide at least 100 hours of comprehensive Japanese language education, with mandatory financial support for such training. Despite its stated goal of supporting developing nations, the foreign trainee program has been criticized as merely a means of securing cheap, unskilled labor in Japan. Numerous reports have highlighted poor working conditions, abusive employers and desperate workers disappearing from their workplaces. EXISTING PROGRAM EXPANDED Separately, the government is moving to expand its Specified Skilled Worker program, a visa category for more advanced laborers. A new proposal aims to include three additional fields: logistics warehouse management, waste disposal and linen supply services. The SSW program currently covers 16 sectors, including agriculture, fisheries and restaurants. It has two sub-categories: Type 1 and the more advanced Type 2. The new sectors will initially fall under the Type 1 category. SSW Type 1 allows workers to stay in Japan for up to five years, while Type 2 permits indefinite residency and family accompaniment. The government plans to integrate the ESD program with the existing SSW program, creating a streamlined pathway from a three-year training role to longer-term residency. To ensure a smoother transition from ESD to SSW, the two categories will share 17 sectors, excluding driving and aviation. Although workers can skip the ESD program and apply directly for SSW, this requires higher labor skills and greater language proficiency. Public comments on the new regulations will be accepted until May 27, with formal adoption expected later this summer.
Globe and Mail
01-04-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Business First Bancshares, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call
BATON ROUGE, La., April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Business First Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BFST), the parent company of b1BANK, is scheduled to release first quarter 2025 earnings after market close on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Executive management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss results on the same day (Thursday, April 24, 2025) at 4:00 p.m. CST. Interested parties may attend the call by dialing toll-free 1-800-715-9871 (North America only), conference ID 8825623, or asking for the Business First Bancshares conference call. The live webcast can be found at On the day of the presentation, the corresponding slide presentation will be available to view on the b1BANK website at About Business First Bancshares, Inc. Business First Bancshares, Inc., (Nasdaq: BFST) through its banking subsidiary b1BANK, has $7.9 billion in assets, $6.9 billion in assets under management through b1BANK's affiliate Smith Shellnut Wilson, LLC (SSW) (excludes $0.9 billion of b1BANK assets managed by SSW) and operates Banking Centers and Loan Production Offices in markets across Louisiana and Texas providing commercial and personal banking products and services. b1BANK is a 2024 Mastercard 'Innovation Award' winner and multiyear winner of American Banker Magazine's 'Best Banks to Work For.' Visit for more information.
