EAST Japan Railway (JR East) has announced details of a new programme to invite international workers to Japan to fill under-staffed roles on the railway. The recruits will receive technical training during a four-week course, and if they successfully complete a skills assessment, will be offered Specified Skills Residence status in Japan and employment with Japanese railway companies.
An initial cohort of 25 recruits from Indonesia and Vietnam will undertake the programme covering either vehicle, track and electrical equipment maintenance later this month. Training for each discipline will take place with JR East and its partner companies at the JR East General Training Centre in Shirakawa City. Participants who successfully pass the examination are expected to begin full-time work with JR East and its partners this summer.
JR East says that Japan’s declining birthrate and ageing population is making it more difficult to secure workers to conduct key maintenance tasks. The railway hopes the programme will provide it with a stable supply of human resources to work in maintaining vehicles, track and electrical equipment, roles where it is particularly feeling the strain.
Training will be conducted in collaboration with various organisations, including the Japan Association for Railway Technical Service (Jarts), which will coordinate the training programme. Jarts will also be responsible for accepting and supporting trainees during their stay in Japan.
