Kandenko has become the first in the electrical construction industry to utilize the Specified Skilled Workers program to accept foreign skilled laborers. On February 20th, the company officially employed 14 male workers in their 20s, all Filipino nationality, who had passed the specified skills level 1 examination, as full-time employees specializing in indoor wiring. They received introduction training at the company's Human Resources Development Center in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Amidst intensifying international competition for talent acquisition, President Toshio Nakama of the company stated, "We aspire for Japan to be chosen by foreign talent as a favorable working environment."

The Specified Skilled Worker is a residency status designed to address labor shortages by accepting foreign workers with certain skill levels. The duration of stay of Specified Skilled Worker Level 1 can be up to five years. In August 2023, electrical work was added to the construction field of the program. The 14 individuals graduated from vocational training schools established by Japanese companies in the Philippines in June 2023, passed the Japanese language proficiency and skill tests in July, and have since been prepared for their integration through online preparatory courses provided by Kandenko.

During a press conference on April 17th, President Nakama explained the company's pioneering initiative in the industry to accept foreign talent, emphasizing the need for proactive engagement and feedback to relevant authorities. He stated, "Japan's population is expected to decline in the future. Our partner companies are also suffering from a shortage of personnel. It is our responsibility to understand the challenges as our own and make recommendations to the relevant government agencies."

Looking ahead, Kandenko plans to diversify options considering the career preferences of individuals, including assignments in Singapore or the Philippines, where the company is expanding its operations.

The company also unveiled scenes of the training to the media on the same day. The 14 individuals, alongside newly hired Japanese employees, are learning equipment operation in Japanese. One of the 14 employees expressed satisfaction, saying, "Japanese technology is advanced, and the teachers' explanations are easy to understand." Another employee, who previously worked as an automotive mechanic in his hometown, set his sights on passing the Specified Skills Level 2 examination, which has no time limit of residency, stating, "First, I want to qualify for Specified Skills Level 2." (2024/04/18)