BorderPlus is planning to place up to 50,000 Indian caregivers in Japan over the next four to five years as the country faces a growing shortage of workers to support its ageing population.
The workforce mobility company has launched a Japan-focused programme under the country’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) pathway. It has already entered into partnerships with two organisations in Japan and plans to add four more in the coming months.
The first group of candidates is currently being trained in India. The programme combines Japanese language learning with caregiving and basic medical skills. Candidates must clear the required Japanese language examination and demonstrate the skills needed for caregiving roles.
Unlike specialised nursing routes, the programme has a lower academic entry barrier. Candidates with a Class 12 qualification can meet the basic eligibility requirement.
The training will primarily focus on elderly and geriatric care. Participants with previous nursing experience will also undergo refresher training in essential caregiving and medical skills. General duty assistants and elderly-care workers are expected to make up a significant share of the demand.
BorderPlus is using a three-pronged training model covering language, culture and skills. Candidates are also prepared for Japanese workplace practices and social expectations. Training for the Japan and Germany pathways generally takes around seven to nine months.
The company expects demand to come from multiple care settings in Japan. These include hospitals, residential-care facilities and home-based care services.
Japan’s demographic shift is driving the requirement. The country has a rapidly ageing population and a shrinking working-age workforce, creating sustained demand for care professionals.
BorderPlus currently operates across Germany, Japan and the Gulf. It is also assessing markets including Italy, Spain, the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Nordic countries as it looks to expand its international workforce mobility business.
