The Labour Ministry plans to organise a training programme for Thais who want to work as caregivers for the elderly in Japan, after law changes in that country prepare to open the industry to foreigners.
In Japan, a recently passed law on nursing care will allow foreign workers to fill jobs as carers for the elderly from next year onward.
On Nov 18, 2016, members of the House of Councillors of Japan passed a law regarding nursing care which will take effect in 2018.
Japan will allow foreign workers to plug personnel shortages in the industry as many Japanese do not want to do such tough and frequently low-paid work.
Theerapon Khunmuang, director-general of the Department of Employment, said the Department of Skills Development is designing a course for Thais caring for the elderly.
The three-month course will teach skills necessary for caring for seniors, said Mr Theerapon, adding participants will be required to work as an apprentice at a registered caregiver for a month.
Under the programme which expects to draw over 400 participants this year, Japanese language training will also be included, he added.
Wiwat Jiraphanvanich, the department's deputy director-general, said demand for caregivers tending to the elderly has been increasing in Europe and Asia, including Japan and Taiwan, over the past 10 years.
Female caregivers for the elderly are in particularly high demand, Mr Wiwat said.
According to the deputy director-general, people who want to work as caregivers for the elderly in Japan also are required to attend the Technical Intern Training Programme provided by the Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation (Jitco).
They must be trained in the work by a Japanese company, he added.
However, details of the training, including the length of the course, have yet to be settled by Jitco.
The training course is scheduled to be finalised in one year.
Mr Wiwat said Japan plans to set up an organisation to monitor foreign workers who work in Japan.
Authorities are also working on the protections and benefits which these workers should receive.
He urged people interested in working as caregivers in Japan to look out for news on the training programme as the department finetunes the details.
He said Thais should avoid relying on job brokers for details, to help avoid being sucked into recruitment scams.
Many foreign workers have been deceived into working in Japan in roles other than what they intended by people who want to take advantage of them, Mr Wiwat said.
According to reports, Japan faces a severe shortage in the nursing and care-giving field.
People in Japan do not want caregiving jobs as it is tough work and does not pay much when compared to other service jobs.
The Japanese government has failed to persuade people laid-off from factories to take courses on caring for the elderly to fill the job vacancies.
The need is growing critically as the country's population ages.
Language barriers make it difficult for foreign workers to enter the nursing care field in Japan, Mr Wiwat said.
The strong points for Thais are that they are friendly, kind and caring -- qualities that are considered vital for the job, he said.
People who want to be caregivers for the elderly must also have good nursing skills, pay close attention to detail and also be patient, Mr Wiwat said.