Global Care Migration Channel and Japanese Immigration Policy in Transition

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H01560
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08010:Sociology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Asato Wako 京都大学, 文学研究科, 准教授 (00465957)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 塚田 典子 日本大学, 商学部, 教授 (10322497) ; 結城 康博 淑徳大学, 総合福祉学部, 教授 (10458622) ; 大崎 千秋 名古屋柳城短期大学, その他部局等, 准教授(移行) (80310598)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 介護 / 外国人 / 技能実習 / 特定技能 / 新型コロナ感染症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigates the complexity of the institutional framework and actual conditions of international mobility of care work and its impact on human resource development, mainly focusing on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) and Specified Skilled Worker (SSW). While the TITP serves as a core channel, the introduction of SSW has resulted in the diversification of mobility channels. Positioned as an intermediary skill level, SSW allows for a change in residence status within Japan under specific requirements. As a result, there has been a notable rise of TITP and students transitioning their status to SSW, with brokers playing a pivotal role in facilitating this "horizontal" mobility. The "horizontal" mobility alongside the traditional "vertical" mobility from the origin countries to Japan has led to a more intricate process of mobility with serious concerns over lowering quality of care and labor disputes.

Free Research Field

移民研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

介護人材の獲得に向け制度が複雑化しており、当事者が合理的選択をできない斡旋依存型にシフトしている。そのため民間斡旋費用が高額化しケアの質が低下しており、社会コストの増加が懸念される。人材獲得は日本国内だけの問題でなく、東アジア諸社会やグローバルな課題であり、広い調整が求められる。本研究はこれらを強く意識したものであり社会還元型である。学術的には国際労働市場のメカニズムの解明と市場の失敗について移動の観点から解明できる意義を有している。