TOKYO – Japan's food service industry is encouraging more foreign workers to upgrade to Category II Specified Skilled Worker status as businesses seek long-term solutions to persistent labour shortages.
The move is aimed at retaining experienced migrant workers by allowing them to stay in Japan indefinitely and take on supervisory and management roles.
Tokyo-based recruitment firm World in Worker Co. recently organised online seminars to help Category I Specified Skilled Workers in the food service sector prepare for the transition to Category II status.
Around 100 migrant workers from about 40 companies participated in the two-day programme held in June, as reported by The Yomiuri Shimbun.
The training focused on the additional knowledge required for managerial positions, including food safety, labour regulations and workplace supervision.
Unlike Category I workers, who mainly perform customer service and kitchen duties and are limited to a maximum stay of five years, Category II visa holders can remain in Japan without time restrictions and are eligible to bring family members to live with them.
Businesses say the scheme allows them to retain experienced employees and develop them into future store managers.
East Wood, a company operating Japanese-style pubs and restaurants in Fukuoka Prefecture, sent four of its Category I employees to the seminars.
“If an employee has Category II status, there are no restrictions on how long they can work for us.
“We hope that, in the future, they develop into store managers that will keep the organisation’s wheels turning,” an area manager at the company said.
However, obtaining Category II status requires higher Japanese language proficiency, advanced technical skills and at least two years of supervisory experience, such as serving as an assistant store manager.
The initiative comes as Japan's food service industry faces mounting labour shortages.
The sector has a quota of 50,000 Category I Specified Skilled Workers, and the government suspended new admissions under the category in April after projections showed the cap would be exceeded.
As competition for experienced workers intensifies, employers are also improving salaries and workplace conditions to attract and retain migrant employees.
According to employment agency Mynavi Global Corp., the average annual salary offered to foreign jobseekers in the food service sector reached ¥3.34 million in May, an increase of ¥160,000 compared with March.
Meanwhile, consultancy firm Linc Inc. said it has seen growing demand from businesses seeking advice on improving working conditions and employee retention for foreign workers.