What is Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)?
TITP commenced in 1993 in Japan. The program aims to contribute to developing countries by accepting its people and transferring skills through On-the-job Training (OJT) in Japan. It promotes international cooperation through transfer of skills, techniques and knowledge gained by technical interns to the developing nations. This will not only contribute to the human resource development but will drive economic growth of the said regions.What is Technical Intern
Training Program?DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on the implementation of the new Technical Intern Training Program with Japan’s Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Katsunobu Kato. The signing was witnessed by DOLE Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano, Consul General Marian Jocelyn Tirol-Ignacio and Labor Attaché Marie Rose C.
Escalada.
JAPAN WELCOMES FOREIGN WORKERSJapan, the world’s third-largest economy, has been increasingly experiencing the issue of population aging. More than 20% of Japan’s population is over 65 years, the world's highest proportion. As per a report by McKinsey, Japan’s working-age population will decline to 71 million in 2025 from 79 million in 2012, and its dependency ratio is set to soar from 0.60 to 0.73 over the same period. There are not enough young people in Japan to fill this vacuum due to the decline in its fertility rate. Given the nation’s aging issue and shrinking population, labor shortage needs to be addressed urgently. Thus, the Government of Japan has taken up certain measures such as premiums for employment of older workers, raising the mandatory retirement age, among others. Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is one such program in Japan that promotes the acceptance of foreign human resources, who acquire skills and knowledge by working as technical interns in Japan.
KEY FEATURESperiod of trainingjob categoriesTraining in philippinesreturn to philippinesTrained individuals are sent to Japan for ‘internship’ for three to five yearsAs of April 2022, 84 job categories and 156 operations provided under TITP through which a candidate can participateCandidates are required to undergo training in Japanese language, Japanese lifestyle orientation & cultural etiquettes to prepare trainees for life in Japan and work. After completion of the program, the trainees are expected to return to the Philippines and utilize the acquired skills in Japan
WISIUPDATES
WISI has deployed over 1000Filipino trainees to Japan since 2014.
technical intern training programThe Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is a temporary labor program that is available to small and medium-size enterprises in Japan, most of which hire trainees for low-paid work. The program is novel because its premise is to serve as an international development tool rather than a labor or immigration policy.
● Country of destination: Japan
● Country of origin: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Peru, The Philippines, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam
● Skill level: Low
● Timeline: 1993 - ongoing
● Number of beneficiaries: 402,356 in 2020
How does it work?TITP allows foreign trainees to work in various sectors (158 jobs in 86 sectors) to gain practical skills and receive a salary. The training period is a maximum of five years. In addition to professional training, trainees receive Japanese language instruction. Trainees can be accepted in two ways. Businesses can accept interns from overseas subsidiaries, joint ventures, or trading partners. Nonprofit organizations and employer associations can accept trainees for placement through cooperatives and associations More than 90 percent of interns fall into the second category.
In 2019, 308,489 foreign trainees worked in Japan, many at small businesses in rural areas. Trainees work in assembly and welding, construction, food-processing, and other sectors. Sector employment tends to fall along gender lines, with most women trainees assigned to textiles and food-processing and most men assigned to heavy industry and construction.
