Japan to Give One More Study Year to Filipino Nurses

TOKYO--The Japanese foreign ministry plans to give Filipinos and Indonesians seeking to become nurses and caregivers in Japan an extra year in the country to prepare for qualifying exams, reports ABS-CBN News. The special measure is based on the low passing rates so far for the prospective healthcare workers from the two Southeast Asian countries, who eventually hope to gain employment in Japan under bilateral free trade accords. The move will benefit about 500 candidate nurses and caregivers who came to Japan without undergoing six-month Japanese language training sessions and help boost their chances in passing the Japanese qualifying exams.