2025-09-27

Registered Support Organizations provide support to foreign workers employed under the Specified Skilled Worker system in areas such as daily life and labor matters. As demand for foreign workers increases, the role of these organizations is becoming increasingly important. Here, we explain about Registered Support Organizations in Osaka Prefecture.

What is a Specified Skilled Worker?

Specified Skilled Workers are foreign nationals possessing certain skills and Japanese language ability who work in fields experiencing labor shortages in Japan. Established in April 2019, this system permits employment in 12 fields including nursing care, food service, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.

There are two categories of Specified Skilled Worker: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 allows for employment for up to 5 years. However, bringing family members is generally not permitted. Type 2 requires more advanced skills and permits family reunification and extension of the period of stay.

The growing demand for Specific Skilled Foreign Workers stems from Japan’s severe labor shortage. With an aging population and declining birthrate, securing labor—especially in regional areas and small-to-medium enterprises—is a major challenge. In this context, Specific Skilled Foreign Workers are expected to be immediately productive assets for companies. Consequently, they have become indispensable for sustaining regional economies and industries.

What is a Registered Support Organization?

A Registered Support Organization is an institution that supports Specified Skilled Foreigners so they can work in Japan with peace of mind.

Of course, companies hiring foreign workers can provide support directly. However, supporting foreign workers’ lives and labor requires considerable expertise and covers a wide range of tasks. Examples include helping find housing, supporting Japanese language learning, accompanying them during administrative procedures, conducting life orientation sessions, and establishing consultation services.

They also play a role in protecting workers from unfair labor conditions by confirming employment terms and conducting regular interviews. These agencies are registered after undergoing screening by the Ministry of Justice, ensuring their reliability.

The success of the Specified Skilled Worker system hinges significantly on whether a robust support system for foreign workers is established and whether its content is adequate. For companies, entrusting support duties to specialized agencies offers the benefit of enabling stable and secure hiring of foreign workers.

The Situation in Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture sees high demand for foreign workers primarily in tourism, food service, and manufacturing, where the Specified Skilled Worker System is actively utilized. Consequently, numerous registered support agencies operate within the prefecture. Particularly in urban areas like Osaka City and Sakai City, the system is notably effective in the food service industry and nursing care sector, where foreign workers have become invaluable assets supporting these fields.

However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often hesitate to accept foreign workers due to difficulties in addressing language and cultural differences. Consequently, registered support agencies in Osaka Prefecture focus not only on Japanese language education and daily life support but also on consulting services for companies. Furthermore, collaborative efforts between registered support agencies, local chambers of commerce and industry, and government bodies are underway to increase the number of companies accepting foreign workers.

Osaka Prefecture’s implementation of the Specified Skilled Worker system is not only addressing its primary goal of resolving labor shortages but also actively working towards building a multicultural society.

Summary

Osaka Prefecture has developed with tourism, food service, and manufacturing as its main industries. These industries are currently supported by a large number of foreign workers. Moving forward, they will continue to play a role not only in resolving labor shortages but also in building a multicultural society.