As the spread of COVID-19 has restricted international travels, Tokyo-based construction company Japan Pile Corporation is focusing on supporting technical intern trainees from Vietnam. Because the trainees were unable to return home as scheduled due to the pandemic, the company continues the technical training and assistance for their daily life. The trainees also keep hard work everyday to improve their skills with forward-looking attitudes.

The company started accepting technical trainees in 2016 from Phan Vu Investment Corporation, an affiliated company that manufactures and constructs concrete piles in Vietnam. In October 2019, nine people arrived in Japan. Although the training period was until October this year, the current situation has not allowed them to return home. They have extended their work permit in Japan until February 2021.

"I want to learn the skills as much as possible and hope to contribute to more efficient construction by taking part in production of construction machinery when I return home, " said 30 year old Le Van Phuc, who is working as a maintenance technician of construction machinery. He left his wife and a 4-year-old daughter in Vietnam and came to Japan alone, saying, "Sometimes I feel a little lonely away from my family." He talks to his family everyday on the videophone. "Some of them were very disappointed when they couldn't go home. We would like to support them as much as we can so they can complete the training, " said an executive of the company. (2020/12/02)