Human Resources

February 2007

Nonprofit for foreign workers
With the aim of improving labor conditions for foreign workers, Tempstaff Co., Adecco Ltd. and 30 other staffing agencies have set up a nonprofit organization dubbed the Global Human Force Development Association (GDA). The move comes in response to growing demand for highly skilled foreign workers in a wide range of sectors, including information technology, medical care, welfare and manufacturing. The demand is due in part to the rapid aging of the Japanese population and the continued decline of the country's birthrate, which are conspiring to shrink the work force. Other founding members include Staff Service Holdings Co., People Staff Co., Manpower Japan Co. and Benesse Corp. Hisamitsu Tanaka, president of Bonjinsha Inc., a publisher of Japanese-language textbooks for foreigners, has been appointed chairman. The association intends to solicit corporate members from a diverse selection of industries, aiming to secure the membership of about 100 firms early on. It charges corporate members an annual fee of 200,000 yen and individuals 50,000 yen. Among the group's planned activities are a consultation service for member companies on dealing with foreign workers, e-mailing members relevant information and providing data to municipalities that help local businesses hire foreign workers. The association will also inform governments of the working conditions faced by foreign employees at Japanese companies, as well as legal problems related to foreign workers. In addition, the association will issue e-mail periodicals to members and hold occasional seminars. In fiscal 2005, there were about 57,000 foreign workers with employment visas in Japan. Another 41,000 or so were working as trainees or interns through a program managed by the Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO), which is affiliated with the central government. (The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, February 19, 2007)