Tokutei Ginou Program (Specified Skilled Worker / SSW)
The Tokutei Ginou or Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program is a residency program that allows foreign nationals to work in Japan with rights and obligations equivalent to Japanese workers. This program was introduced by the Japanese government in April 2019 to address labor shortages in various industrial sectors.
Through this program, participants can work directly at Japanese companies after meeting the required language proficiency and job skill standards. Tokutei Ginou is divided into two categories:
- Tokutei Ginou 1 (SSW1): Allowed to work in Japan for up to 5 years, but cannot bring family members.
- Tokutei Ginou 2 (SSW2): Can extend the residency indefinitely and is allowed to bring family members to Japan.
General Requirements:
- Education: Minimum high school graduate or equivalent.
- Skills: Possess specific skills and knowledge in the chosen industry field.
- Language Ability: Pass the Japanese language exam at least JLPT N4 or JFT Basic A2.
- Technical Exam: Pass the technical skill test according to the job field to be entered.
- Health: Physically and mentally healthy.
- Ethics and Discipline: No tattoos and no piercings (exceptions sometimes apply for women’s ear piercings).
- Police Record: No criminal history or misconduct.
Participants who have previously joined the Technical Intern Training (Ginou Jisshuusei) have the opportunity to continue to Tokutei Ginou 1 after returning to Indonesia, with an easier process due to prior experience in Japan.