SSW Job Opportunities for Indonesian Drivers in Japan & Requirements

Opportunities for Indonesian drivers to work in Japan are now increasingly open through the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program. This program allows foreign workers, including from Indonesia, to work legally in various Japanese industrial sectors, one of which is the Automotive Transportation Business sector.

In this sector, there are three main job categories that can be filled by foreign workers, namely truck drivers, taxi drivers, and bus drivers. With the increasing need for manpower in the field of land transportation, Japan opens wider opportunities for professional drivers from abroad, one of which is Indonesia.

To be able to work in the Automotive Transportation Business sector through an SSW visa, prospective workers must meet several basic requirements, including:

• Be at least 18 years old, in accordance with the minimum age to obtain a professional driver's license in Japan
• Have driving experience & active driver's license A
• Pass a skill test in the transportation field
• Pass a Japanese language proficiency test

The standard of Japanese required differs according to the type of job:

• Taxi and bus drivers: minimum level N3 or higher
• Truck drivers: at least level N4 or higher

In addition, candidates must also receive a job offer from a company registered in Japan.

To work as a professional driver in Japan, candidates must also have a driving license appropriate to the type of vehicle being operated, ie:

• Class 2 driver's license (Nishu Menkyo)
  A license used to drive commercial passenger vehicles such as taxis, buses, and rental cars.
• Class 1 driver's license (Dai-shu Menkyo)
  This is a professional license required to drive trucks or other large vehicles.

A number of training institutions and transportation institutions in Indonesia have begun to prepare professional driver candidates who want to work in Japan. This preparation is done so that candidates can meet Japan's competency standards and transportation regulations. With the SSW program in the transportation sector, it is expected that Indonesian drivers will be able to compete in the international job market and meet the needs of the workforce in Japan.