Those who fulfil the eligibility criteria will be granted resident status as "Specified Skilled Worker" by the Japanese government

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of a pact between India and Japan to facilitate skilled Indian workers to work in 14 specified sectors of the Japanese economy.

The Memorandum of Cooperation to be signed between the Indian and Japanese governments will lay down a basic framework for partnership for proper operation of the system pertaining to a "Specified Skilled Worker".

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this will set an institutional mechanism for partnership and cooperation between India and Japan on sending and accepting skilled Indian workers, who have qualified the required skill and Japanese language test, to work in these specified sectors in Japan.

“Skilled Indian workers from fourteen sectors viz. Nursing care; Building cleaning; Material Processing industry; Industrial machinery manufacturing industry; Electric and electronic information related industry; Construction; Shipbuilding and ship-related industry; Automobile maintenance; Aviation; Lodging; Agriculture; Fisheries; Food and beverages manufacturing industry and Food service industry would have enhanced job opportunities to work in Japan,” a statement issued by the ministry said.

These Indian workers will be granted a new status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker" by the Government of Japan.

A Joint Working Group will be set up to follow up on the implementation of this MOC, which would enhance people-to-people contacts, foster mobility of workers and skilled professionals from India to Japan, the statement said.