In Japan: Caretakers Accepted

(Sunday, March 25, 1 a.m.) - The welfare ministry has decided to introduce a new eased license for nursing caretakers as part of measures to facilitate Japan's acceptance of Filipino caretakers under a bilateral free trade agreement signed last year, ministry officials said Saturday.

The ministry plans to certify those who have not passed a national exam as a ''practical'' nursing caretaker if they have completed related courses at colleges, universities or vocational schools, the officials said. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has found it necessary to set up the new license to pave the way for those who fail in the state exam to work at nursing-care facilities so as to facilitate the acceptance of Filipino caretakers, the officials said. (Kyodo News On The Web) ...details here