For those who are looking for work abroad, Japan is one of the best places to consider if you are looking for a variety of job openings, from domestic work to highly specialized ones. In fact, over the next five years, the country, through its specialized skills workers (SSW) visa, is looking to acquire at least 22,000 workers in one of the key industries that require manpower support through the SSW program, the hotel and accommodation industry.
In this post, we will be specifically discussing the requirements needed when applying for work as a housekeeper in Japan. If you wish to apply to become one soon, then continue reading the following paragraphs.
Disclaimer: The information published is based on the experience shared by the vlogger/YouTuber. The information provided may change without prior notice and may differ in actual scenarios. Let this article serve as a guide only.
Here is the video guide shared by a Pinoy OFW in Japan, Ivy a.k.a Poison Ivy Jane on YouTube. If you find her tips helpful, you may check out her channel to catch more interesting content about her work and life as an OFW in Japan.
Qualifications to Work as a House Cleaner in Japan
There are several requirements that you need to meet in order to be allowed to work in Japan as a housekeeper. Here are some of them:
– Education: Must be at least a high school graduate
– Age: at least 23-40 years old
– Experience: at least 1 yr experience working as a household worker/abroad
– Passport: Must be valid for 2 yrs
– No tattoo
– Must be willing to learn the Nihongo language
– Can speak basic Nihongo
As mentioned, the requirements for this type of work can vary from one agency to another. That said, it’s better if you choose an agency where your employment history and work background will fit their requirements.
And from there, you can just fill in the other requirements that you need such as learning Nihongo and improving your basic Japanese communication skills. According to Ivy, there are plenty of YouTube videos you can watch to help you learn the Japanese language. This is extremely important as this will give you an advantage
When applying at the agency, check if the position you’re applying for is covered by the SSW program because the requirements for application may vary a little or significantly. Remember, the SSW visa program is a government-to-government agreement between Japan and its partner countries, which the Philippines is a part of. That said, you need to check with your agency if there are other requirements you need to provide to qualify for this visa program.
What does a housekeeper in Japan do?
Before applying for work as a housekeeper in a foreign country such as Japan, you need to know what to expect so that you won’t be shocked or surprised to find out what the work actually entails once you are deployed by your agency abroad. Anyway, you will receive proper training through TESDA and from your company in Japan to help you adjust and do your role properly. But if you are curious to know what the job entails, here are some of the things you need to take note of.
First off, it is rare for housekeepers in Japan to work with only just one client, family or household, as most are working under a cleaning agency or manpower service agency. That said, expect that you will be living in a shared house or an apartment with other workers and that you’ll have to work on an on-call or a routine basis, depending on where you will be assigned to work (e.g., home, hotel, restaurant, or public facilities).
Before you get employed for work abroad, you will have to undergo TESDA training in the Philippines, which covers the following:
- providing housekeeping services
- providing valet services
- preparation of guest rooms
- cleaning of public areas and equipment
- doing laundry of linen and guest clothes
- handling intoxicated guests
Also, it is worth noting that cleaning agencies can assign you to different households, establishments, or even public facilities in Japan. This will all depend on the client that will require your services. That said, it’s very important that you brush up on your Nihongo skills, even just for basic daily use such as for taking your daily commute to work, asking for directions, and other common situations you might encounter while working in Japan.
According to Ivy, having some knowledge of the Japanese language will work to your advantage because not only will this make your adjustment to living and working in Japan much easier, but you will also be more effective in communicating with your Japanese clients, as most of the local know very little to no English at all.
That said, you need to make it one of your early goals to learn as many Japanese words (vocabulary) as you can and be confident in speaking the language, especially for everyday conversations as this will prove to be extremely useful for you in the long run.
Working in Japan as a housekeeper is definitely not easy at first as this will demand a lot of physical effort, but it’s one of the more common jobs Filipinos can apply for and earn a decent living from should you decide to relocate for work in Japan.
That said, there are two (2) things that you need to prioritize when applying for a job: (1) finding an accredited agency that will help you find work as a housekeeper in Japan, and (2) learning Nihongo as fast and effectively as you can. These two things can ensure that you will find a good job in Japan as a housekeeper. Moreover, by taking the proper way of finding work in Japan, you can avoid getting scammed or finding complications once you start working abroad. Remember, the only way to find a job in Japan is through an agency and nothing else.
Now that you know what you can expect when applying for work as a house cleaner in Japan, the next thing to do is to put what you’ve learned into action. Just make sure to follow all the things mentioned in this guide so you can find the right agency that can help you achieve your dreams of becoming an OFW in Japan.
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