An Indonesian man, an Indonesian woman and a Filipina have passed the Japanese state licensing exam that enables them to work as nurses in this country. We congratulate them on their success. They came to Japan under economic partnership agreements that their countries have with Japan. The exam was held in February.
The government, however, must rethink the current licensing system for foreigners who come to Japan to become licensed as nurses and nursing caregivers, as the Japanese-language requirement has set exam hurdles too high for most.
Under the EPA agreements, some 560 Indonesians came to Japan in and after 2008 and some 280 Filipinos did so in and after 2009 to prepare for state exams for nurses or nursing caregivers while receiving training at hospitals and nursing-care facilities.