The Philippine ambassador to Tokyo hopes bilateral labor exchanges expand — in particular nurses and other caregivers coming to Japan under a free-trade accord — as part of the efforts to deepen economic relations.

"We are fully committed to increase the (now low) success rates (of nurse and caregiver candidates) in the Japanese licensure examinations through various measures — including improvements in the Japanese-language training of the candidates," Ambassador Manuel Lopez said in a Tuesday lecture held at Aoyama Gakuin University.

Since 2009, 206 nurses and 302 caregivers from the Philippines have entered Japan under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, which includes an arrangement to increase the movement of personnel across borders.