In Japan’s agricultural sector, the labor shortage has become a serious issue, especially during the peak harvest and planting seasons. To address this challenge, a new model has emerged under the Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginō) system: employing foreign workers in a relay format across different regions. By moving workers from one production area to another according to seasonal demand, farms can secure manpower during their busy periods while offering foreign workers stable, continuous employment.
Practical Example: Long-Term Relay Between Nagano and Nagasaki
A case reported by FNN describes a program where Vietnamese workers under the Specified Skilled Worker visa first work in Nagano during its busy farming season (spring to autumn). When Nagano enters its off-season in November, the same workers move to Nagasaki, where the harvest season begins. After finishing their work there, they return to Nagano the following season.
This relay employment system is coordinated by support organizations and staffing agencies. They manage the logistics of moving workers, securing housing, and providing language and lifestyle support. Employment contracts are sometimes structured to cover multiple locations, ensuring predictability and stability for the workers.
Benefits for Foreign Workers
- Stable Income Throughout the Year
Normally, farm jobs in Japan are highly seasonal, leaving long gaps without income. By moving between regions with staggered busy seasons, foreign workers can secure year-round employment and reduce financial uncertainty. - Broader Skill Development
Workers gain hands-on experience with a variety of crops, climates, and farming methods. This increases their skill level, making them more valuable employees and enhancing their career prospects both in Japan and abroad. - Comprehensive Support Systems
Many programs include housing assistance, transportation arrangements, and Japanese-language support. This reduces the stress of relocation and makes it easier for workers to adapt to new environments. - Predictability and Security
Because the next job placement is prearranged, workers do not face the anxiety of unemployment once a particular farm’s busy season ends. This predictability helps them plan their lives and finances with greater confidence.
Benefits for Employers and Local Communities
- Easing Severe Labor Shortages
Japanese farms often struggle to find enough workers during peak seasons. The relay model allows regions to share the same workforce efficiently, ensuring that crops can be harvested on time without shortages. - Access to Experienced, Ready-to-Work Personnel
Since workers rotate between regions year after year, they quickly become familiar with different farming practices. This reduces training costs and ensures immediate productivity. - Stabilized Production Planning
With reliable manpower secured through the relay system, farms can plan their planting, harvesting, and shipment schedules more effectively, increasing overall productivity. - Reducing Regional Disparities
Wealthier farming areas often monopolize available labor. By coordinating relay employment across multiple regions, smaller or less prosperous farms can also secure workers, contributing to fairer resource distribution. - Cost and Risk Management
Farms no longer need to hire year-round employees for seasonal work, reducing unnecessary labor costs. The relay model minimizes the financial risks associated with underemployment or overstaffing.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite its advantages, the relay model comes with certain challenges:
- Relocation Burdens: Moving between regions requires transportation, housing, and adaptation to new environments.
- Wage and Condition Differences: Variations in pay and living costs between regions can create dissatisfaction if not managed properly.
- Administrative Complexity: Changing worksites may require additional paperwork for contracts, immigration, and local registration.
- Health and Safety Risks: Frequent relocation and shifts in climate or workload can strain workers physically and mentally.
- Cultural and Language Barriers: Workers may face adjustment difficulties in each new region, making support services essential.
Conclusion: The Significance of Relay Employment
The relay employment model effectively addresses structural challenges in Japanese agriculture—namely, seasonal labor demand, regional timing differences, and chronic worker shortages. For foreign workers, it offers stable income and career development opportunities. For employers, it provides a steady supply of skilled labor, stabilizes production, and reduces regional disparities.
The system also aligns well with the Specified Skilled Worker framework, which is designed to bring in immediately productive foreign workers for industries facing labor shortages. By strategically coordinating labor mobility across regions, Japan can sustain agricultural productivity while providing fairer, more secure opportunities for foreign workers.