Filipino housekeeping services win fans in Japan’s growing market

Housekeeping services employing Filipino staff have gained in popularity amid growing demand in Japan, with one provider seeing its workforce roughly double over the past decade.



Since the Japanese government began allowing foreign nationals to provide housekeeping services in national strategic special zones in 2016, workers from the Philippines have been a top choice due to their cheerful personalities, diligence and expertise.



In February, a Filipino housekeeper listened carefully to her client’s instructions as she made her on-site debut around a month after arriving in Japan. She took notes as the client explained in a mix of English and Japanese how to use cleaning tools and detergents.



Before 2015, only certain households, such as those of foreign diplomats, had been allowed to employ foreign helpers.



But a legal change that year, aimed at increasing women’s participation in the workforce and easing labour shortages in Japan’s housekeeping industry, paved the way for foreigners to work in designated areas.



Following the law revision, Tokyo-based Pinay International launched a business employing Filipino housekeepers. It now operates in parts of Tokyo, neighbouring Kanagawa Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture, with over 200 full-time employees.