Japan, due to its rapid graying population, will hire some 400 nurses and 600 caregivers from the Philippines following the provision of the free trade agreement signed by Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry of Japan will allow these nurses and caregivers to work in Japan for the first two years according to the ministry officials. They also said that the program will start as early as April 2007.

Japan has the largest economy among other Asian countries. But due to its falling birthrate and aging population, Japanese economist have long argued that they will need to hire more foreign workers to met the shortage.

“We consider the numbers appropriate in the sense that they will not have an adverse effect on the labor market in Japan,” Tetsuo Tsuji, Japan’s administrative vice labor minister said.

The agreement states that the 1,000 nurses and caregivers can only be allowed to work in Japan only if they pass Japanese qualification examinations. The candidates will have to undergo a six months training in Japan before they receive on-the-job training, Tsuji said.

If the candidates were able to obtain states licenses for the jobs within time limits, they will be authorized to work in Japan on a long-term basis. Nurses are allowed to work in Japan for three years while four years for caregivers.