Action Plan on Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese Descent

Action Plan on Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese Descent (Provisional Translation) March 31, 2011 Council for the Promotion of Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese descent 1. Introduction The Council for the Promotion of Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese descent (hereinafter referred to as Council ) formulated the Basic Policy on Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese Descent (hereinafter referred to as Basic Policy ) about the measures of the national government for those residents in August 2010. The Council has since developed the Action Plan on Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese Descent (hereinafter referred to as Action Plan ) to include the results of discussions with each of the government ministries concerned with the Basic Policy and to define more specifically the measures included therein. The Action Plan will take effect from FY 2011 and be reviewed three years subsequent as required. It may be necessary to review earlier, however, due to the evolving situation surrounding the recent Great East Japan Earthquake. 2. Specific initiatives for each measure (1) Measures necessary for foreign residents of Japanese descent to be able to communicate in Japanese in everyday life [1] Develop a comprehensive system to promote education of the Japanese language, etc. a. Hold Conference for Promoting Japanese Education participated by the institutions involved in the education of Japanese language, etc., and working-level communication meetings Conference for Communication among Ministries and Agencies related to Japanese Education to understand the general activities related to Japanese language education and to exchange information to determine issues yet to be addressed. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology [MEXT]) b. Continue application of the Japanese Language Education Program for Foreigners as Residents in Japan establishing and operating Japanese classes, training Japanese-language teachers selected from foreigners with a certain level of competence in Japanese, etc., and carrying out practical training of volunteers, etc., to solve issues that any foreigner, who lacks Japanese language skills, may have in order to enable them to feel comfort and a valued member of society while living in Japan. (MEXT) 1

c. Consolidate information from various sources about Japanese language education owned by the governmental or non-governmental institutions, etc., involved in the Japanese language education, and consider setting up a system which allows for the information to be available to each of them and also build a database of the curriculums of the Japanese language education of Foreigners as Residents in Japan adopted in the Japanese Language Sectional Meeting of the Cultural Affairs Council in 2010, making it available through the internet. (MEXT) d. Promote the standard curriculum template and examples of teaching materials for the Japanese language education of Foreigners as Residents in Japan to the institutions and organizations involved in Japanese language education. Also, request for the Education in Japanese Language Subcommittee of the Japanese Language Sectional Meeting mentioned above review the criteria for evaluating the competency and instruction ability of the Japanese language based on the standard curriculum template. (MEXT) e. Hold a Conference of Collaborators in Survey and Research concerning the Cultivation and Training of Japanese Language Teachers, etc., analyze the curriculum, etc., of Japanese language education, and review the current conditions concerning the cultivation and training of Japanese language teachers, etc. (MEXT) [2] Foster the acquisition of Japanese-language proficiency, taking advantage of various administrative procedures a. Handbook of Learning Japanese and Life in Japan, explaining the necessity to learn Japanese, offering information about learning and living with the Japanese language, as well as an introduction to the Japanese language, etc., is posted on the Agency of Cultural Affairs website, as well as distributed to all the prefectural governments (including Education Boards), in Portuguese, Spanish and other languages. Continue to make efforts to provide information for the future. (MEXT) b. Continue to provide foreign nationals, such as Japanese visa applicants with the Guide to Living in Japan and leaflet which were compiled in multiple languages containing various information (including learning the Japanese language, medical care and insurance, education in Japan, etc.) by posting them on the Ministry, Embassies and Consulates website and by distributing them at the Embassies and Consulates when the visa was issued. The Guideline and leaflet were made by the International Workshop on Acceptance of Foreign nationals and Their Integration in Japan held in FY 2009. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) c. Taking account of the progress of the initiatives listed in [1] or [2] b above, continue consideration of measures to foster the acquisition of Japanese-language proficiency, such as ascertaining the level of Japanese-language proficiency and encouraging the learning 2

thereof when necessary during various administrative procedures. (Cabinet Office, Related ministries) (2) Measures necessary to provide proper care for children [1] Support the education of children a. Promote the systematic and comprehensive guidelines regarding instructions on adaptation and Japanese language tuition, etc., and develop the methods to measure the competency of students with regards to the Japanese language in schools and the manuals to train teachers of Japanese language tuition, etc. (MEXT) b. Continue the Project to Promote the Coordination and Cooperation among Schools, Families and Communities by which the government grants one third of the cost necessary to staff supporters for preschool-age foreign children in pre-classes, to support parents lacking the competency in Japanese language, and to staff personnel (school-enrollment promoters) to provide information about the education system, etc., in Japan. (MEXT) c. Continue to disseminate the matters requiring consideration in teaching foreign students, which are provided in the Courses of Study, etc., to the Education Boards and schools. (MEXT) d. In terms of Japanese language tuition, continue to provide information regarding successful methods and materials for teaching Japanese used in various locations, as well as any know-how and experiences in teaching foreign students the Japanese language, etc. (MEXT) e. Assess actual accounts of teaching foreign students the Japanese language by hearing, and review the education curriculum taking into consideration the students competency in Japanese, etc., in terms of the established systems. (MEXT) f. Promote development of an environment which allows for foreign students to enter or transfer to public schools in Japan with ease, where over-school aged students will be accepted, students lacking the competency in Japanese required for learning subjects can be accepted in lower school years, etc. (MEXT) g. Maintain the number of teachers in charge of Japanese language education for foreign students, and consider ways of improving their allocation. (MEXT) h. Continue to conduct special training of the teachers in schools accepting foreign students and the teachers consultants in Education Boards in charge of teaching foreign students in how to teach the Japanese language, etc. (MEXT) i. Assess the training of teachers in charge of the Japanese language in the Central Education Council s review regarding the measures to improve the qualification of teachers. (MEXT) j. Continue to promote work experience in elementary and junior-high schools, and 3

investigate and research solutions for various issues in order to promote career education through the educational activities in schools, disseminating the findings widely. (MEXT) k. Investigate the cases of senior-high schools having a system to accept foreign students, and make the information widely available to help develop an environment in which such students can be accepted to senior-high schools. (MEXT) l. Take measures to make the Examination for Granting an Equivalency Certificate of Lower Secondary School Graduation more accessible to foreign children from FY 2011 onwards, such as preparing test sheets containing the examination questions with kana printed beside each kanji in the text, exempting those with a score of N2 or higher in the Japanese Competency Test from the Japanese language examination, etc. (MEXT) m. Promote the enrollment of children who are foreign residents of Japanese descent in schools by distributing leaflets on enrollment in schools prepared by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology to the residents when they renew their period of stay. (Ministry of Justice, MEXT) [2] Support the promotion of upgrading the Brazilians schools to those in the miscellaneous schools or of quasi-school corporations, etc., and requests to the Brazilian government, etc. a. Continue to disseminate the Procedures Manual on Applying for Quasi-School Corporation or Miscellaneous School Status (Japanese and Portuguese versions) prepared in FY 2009. (MEXT) b. Request the Brazilian government for support (distribution of textbooks free of charge, etc.) to the children of Brazilians living in Japan by taking advantage of bilateral meeting on consular affairs between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries and the meeting with the Ministry of Education of Brazil, etc. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MEXT) c. Continue to support the Remote Education Course for Brazilian Teachers Resident in Japan operated by the Brazilian government under partnership with Brazilian and Japanese universities to issue to the teachers the official teaching certificates of Brazil by providing the course with the facilities of the international cooperation agency without charge. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) d. Continue to implement the Support Program to Facilitate School Education for Foreign Children ( Bridging Course Program) to allow for better accessibility to Japanese language education in 2011. Also, consider the continued operation of the project for 2012 and beyond to increase its effectiveness and efficiency through evaluation and examination of the project and understanding the conditions necessary for children to enter school and any new requirements. (MEXT) 4

(3) Measures necessary for obtaining a stable job [1] Occupational education/training, etc., where Japanese language ability necessary for employment can be learnt a. Conduct the work preparation training in 2011 as a part of the three-year measures started in FY 2009 to address labour issues arising from the economic crisis. This program is conducted in the communities where the foreign residents of Japanese descent job seekers densely live to fulfill the need of those job seekers who are highly motivated to gain secure jobs and the training aims at increasing their Japanese proficiency, and providing basic knowledge about Japanese labour law, employment practices, labour/social insurance system. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare [MHLW]) b. Continue to conduct occupational training for foreign residents of Japanese descent job seekers with a certain level of ability in Japanese with consideration to their Japanese ability, etc., in a community where many foreign residents of Japanese descent live based on the needs of the community. (MHLW) [2] Multi-lingual consultation on finding employment a. Multi-lingual consultation by assigning interpreters and consultants at Hello Work covering the communities where many foreign residents of Japanese descent live, by operating the one-stop-service sections in association with the municipality offices, and by operating the consultation/assistance centers for foreigners should be continued in 2011 as a part of the three-year measures started in FY 2009 to address labour issues arising from the economic crisis. (MHLW) [3] Guidance of, and support and consultation to, employers, and exchange of opinions with industries, etc. a. Give employers guidance for the improvement of employment management according to The Guideline concerning Appropriate Approaches to Improving Management of Foreign Workers for Employers by sending the personnel of Hello Work, etc., to the employers offices and offer the employers more specialized consultation support by the foreigners employment management advisors on request. (MHLW) b. Continue to exchange opinions with the industries about various issues involving foreign residents of Japanese descent. (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [METI]) c. Give proper guidance to the industries about the issues concerning foreign workers, including foreign residents of Japanese descent, in cooperation with the ministries and agencies concerned. (METI) d. Continue to discuss in the working-level meetings with representatives from the ministries concerned on possible strategies to have companies and economic organizations play a 5

part in supporting foreign residents of Japanese descent as a responsibility of their employers. (Cabinet Office, MEXT, MHLW, METI) [4] Measures for promoting proper employment a. Give employers guidance for the improvement of employment management according to The Guideline concerning Appropriate Approaches to Improving Management of Foreign Workers for Employers by sending the personnel of Hello Work, etc., to the employers offices and offer the employers more specialized consultation support by the foreigners employment management advisors on request. (The same measures as mentioned earlier) (MHLW) (4) Measures necessary for addressing problems faced in society [1] Make information available in multiple languages, provide information about Japan and the basics of the Japanese language a. Continue to provide information on nationwide systems, etc., in multiple languages on the Cabinet Office s Portal Site on Policies for Foreign Residents taking into consideration the needs of NPOs, etc. providing consultation and support, and improve the information to aid the activities of such NPOs, etc. as well. (Cabinet Office) b. The guidebook for enrollment in schools containing information about the education systems in Japan and the procedures for enrollment in schools has been published in Portuguese, Spanish and other languages, and distributed to all the prefectural and other local Education Boards in the country, overseas diplomatic offices, etc., as well as the website of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Continue to make efforts to provide information in the future. (MEXT) c. The leaflet encouraging subscription to the national pension system has been published in Portuguese, Spanish and other languages, and distributed to all the Pension Offices in the country, as well as published on the Japan Pension Service s website. Continue to make efforts to provide information in the future. (MHLW) d. The leaflet encouraging health checks for pregnant women has been published in Portuguese, Spanish and other languages, and distributed to all the Pension Offices in the country, as well as published on the Ministry s website. Continue to make efforts to provide information in the future. (MHLW) e. Promote efforts to implement multiple-language paper tests for drivers licenses including preliminary check for training courses at each prefectural police department. (National Police Agency) f. Continue to provide foreign nationals, such as Japanese visa applicants with the Guide to Living in Japan and leaflet which were compiled in multiple languages containing 6

various information (including learning the Japanese language, medical care and insurance, education in Japan, etc.) by posting them on the Ministry, Embassies and Consulates website and by distributing them at the Embassies and Consulates when the visa was issued. The Guideline and leaflet were made by the International Workshop on Acceptance of Foreign nationals and Their Integration in Japan held in FY 2009. (The same measures as mentioned earlier) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) g. Handbook of Learning Japanese and Life in Japan, explaining the necessity to learn Japanese, offering information about learning and living with the Japanese language, as well as an introduction to the Japanese language, etc., is posted on the Agency of Cultural Affairs website, as well as distributed to all the prefectural governments (including Education Boards), in Portuguese, Spanish and other languages. Continue to make efforts to provide information in the future. (The same measures as mentioned earlier) (MEXT) h. The National Tax Agency will continue to prepare the English version of the introduction to tax returns for foreigners, and some taxation bureaus receiving many requests from foreign residents of Japanese descent will also continue to prepare it in Portuguese and Spanish, sending it to foreign tax-payers together with the tax return form or offering it over the counter at tax offices, as well as posting it on the relevant taxation bureaus website. (National Tax Agency) [2] Utilization of Public Rental Housing a. Continue to promote measures to approve foreigners with resident status to move into Publicly-operated Housing, etc., in the same way as Japanese residents. (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism [MLIT]) b. Continue to utilize vacant public housing supplied by local governments by simplifying the procedures for young single persons or other persons not originally qualified for tenancy so that those who may lose employment and accommodation can secure a home. (MLIT) [3] Supporting Acceptance to Private Rental Housing a. Disseminate and increase observation of the guidelines regarding facilitation of foreigners moving into private rental housing and the guidebooks about searching for rental housing by publishing them on the Ministry s website or by other means. (MLIT) b. Facilitate foreign families moving into private rental housing by supporting the activities of local governments, operators concerned, and the tenant-support councils organized by the supporters of foreigners searching for homes, to enable foreigners to secure a home. (MLIT) 7

[4] Measures against disasters a. Consider how to raise disaster awareness through various types of media, such as enhancing the contents (by using multiple languages, enhancing links with related organizations sites) of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency s website explaining to foreigners how to raise their disaster awareness. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications [MIC]) b. Consider providing local governments with the necessary advice for promoting disaster prevention measures for foreign residents of Japanese descent. (MIC) [5] Measures to prevent crimes a. Continue to enhance anti-crime measures in cooperation with other organizations concerned by having each prefectural police department offer crime- and delinquency-prevention classes and distribute handbooks for consultation about crime prevention at the classes to keep foreign residents of Japanese descent from being victimized. (National Police Agency) b. Lend tools by free necessary for activities for protecting and guiding children on their way to and from school to voluntary crime-prevention groups mainly composed of foreign residents of Japanese descent. Also continue to have each prefectural police department support those groups by giving them local security information and conducting patrols jointly with them, etc. (National Police Agency) [6] Traffic safety education a. Continue to have each prefectural police department offer traffic safety classes to make the traffic rules better understood by foreign residents of Japanese descent, using multiple-language educational materials for foreigners. (National Police Agency) [7] Develop systems to offer consultation in foreign languages, promote development of human resources and NPOs a. Continue consultation by telephone for foreign residents of Japanese descent regarding their well-being, etc., conducted as part of the support for Japanese emigrants and their descent. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) b. Promote actively the development of NPOs and human resources who will engage in social activities by measures such as offering information to them, because it is important to cooperate with not only administrative institutions but also NPOs and other parties that undertake the New Public Commons for supporting their lives through facilitating communications with foreign residents of Japanese descent. (Cabinet Office, Related ministries) 8

c. Improve the environment whereby foreign residents of Japanese descent can be actively accepted into Japanese society by publishing the results of community projects undertaken by local governments with large communities of foreign residents and the results of the activities of NPOs and companies on the Portal Site on Policies for Foreign Residents, as well as by encouraging the efforts made by local governments, NPOs and companies. (Cabinet Office, Related ministries) d. Continue to develop the system allowing consultation in foreign languages available by operating the Immigration Information Center and One-stop Center for Comprehensive Support of Foreigners (Ministry of Justice), staffing interpreters and consultants to the Hello Work facilities, operating the one-stop-service corner in association with the municipality offices, and operating the consultant / support center specializing in foreign residents of Japanese descent (MHLW). (A part of measures the same as mentioned earlier) (Ministry of Justice, MHLW, Related ministries) e. Consider utilizing any know-how to develop human resources who can help communication between medical staffs and foreigners to support the medical treatment of foreign residents of Japanese descent. (METI) [8] Increase the coverage by social insurance and national health insurance, etc. a. Continue to instruct business establishments employing foreigners to be covered by social insurance, and have the leaflets encouraging subscription to the social insurance system distributed at regional immigration offices of the Ministry of Justice to the foreigners found not to be covered by the social insurance, when they are applying for a change to their resident status or renewal of resident period, so that the application of social insurance may be promoted. (MHLW) (5) Others [1] Encourage local governments to implement multicultural coexistence on their own initiative a. Continue to disseminate the measures required to encourage local governments to implement multicultural coexistence on their own initiative, such as informing the Plan for Multicultural Coexistence in Local Communities created in March, 2006, in various meetings. (MIC) b. Provide useful information like advanced policies for local governments to encourage them to implement multicultural coexistence on their own initiative. (MIC) [2] Disseminate the necessity and significance of accepting foreign residents of Japanese descent into society 9

a. Improve the environment whereby foreign residents of Japanese descent can be actively accepted into Japanese society by publishing the results of community projects undertaken by local governments with large communities of foreign residents and the results of the activities of NPOs and companies on the Portal Site on Policies for Foreign Residents, and promote the measures to help every citizen understand more deeply the necessity and significance of accepting foreign residents of Japanese descent into Japanese society. (A part of measures the same as mentioned earlier) (Cabinet Office, Related ministries) [3] Enhance cooperation with the embassies in Japan, etc. a. Enhance cooperation with Embassy of Brazil and Embassy of Peru, etc., by exchanging information with them due to cooperation being important for supporting foreign residents of Japanese descent, most of whom are Brazilians and Peruvians. (Cabinet Office, Related ministries) 3. System for implementation (1) Implement the measures included in the Action Plan also taking into consideration the start of the Basic Resident Registration System on foreign residents (slated for the summer in 2012). (2) Get the executive board of the Council for the Promotion of Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese descent to follow up on the progress of each measures implemented as required. (3) Also, implement the measures while actively maintaining cooperation with local governments, NPOs and other supporting organizations and utilize the ideas of the local governments, etc. 10