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Because they are capable of showing consideration,
They are loved by everyone.
2023.07.01
Work site manager
Junji Obitsu
From the very beginning of the program, Mr. Obitsu has been in charge of training the Filipinos on the job. Having observed their work for a long time, Mr. Obitsu shared her thoughts and feelings about them, based on her experiences working with them on the ground.
He was capable at his job, but the quality was only "international standards."
What were your feelings when you heard that the company was going to start accepting new employees?
Once the decision to accept them was made, we knew we had to prepare the environment, but we had absolutely no idea what to do or how to do it. We didn't know how much Japanese they could speak, or what their daily life was like. We were simply lacking information, and it made us anxious.
How did you teach them the job?
The first group of trainees who came to Japan were people we had worked with when our company participated in a highway construction project overseas, so we knew they had the skills. Therefore, when we wanted them to do something, we could just have them get on the heavy machinery once and say "change (let me take over the driving)," and they could usually do it.
The instructions weren't that difficult, were they?
Yes, that's true. However, even though they could follow instructions, the level of meticulousness in their work was slightly different from that in Japan. For example, when it came to embankment work, in Japan it's common to finish within a few centimeters of a guideline called a "staking," but they were a bit rough around the edges, following what you might call "overseas standards." In those areas, we Japanese had to carefully manage, point out, and adjust things.
Even if it's not their job, they'll readily lend a hand.
What is the reputation like among other companies on-site?
One of their defining characteristics is their thoughtfulness. When using a backhoe to lift materials, they'll even get off the machine and help with the lowering process, readily lending a hand even if it's not their job. This kind of behavior is normal for them, and it's something that other contractors appreciate.
Is there anything you want from them?
If I were to be picky, I'd like to see them understand Japanese a little better. However, even from our perspective, Japanese is a difficult language. There are kanji, hiragana, katakana, and dialects. Also, when people from the same country gather, they tend to speak their native language, which probably hinders their progress in Japanese. But in terms of work, their current level is not a problem.
I have never been late or absent from work.
What do you think are their strengths?
What I like most about him is his seriousness and dedication to his work. In particular, he is never late. If you tell him the time and place to meet, he will always be there on time. Moreover, he has never been absent without notice. That's something I'd like to emulate (laughs).
That's wonderful!
SAGUM, who works at our company, unfortunately lost a family member to COVID-19. At that time, his colleagues and I offered him a condolence gift. He then asked a fellow Filipino who had lived in Japan for a long time about Japanese customs and wrote a thank-you letter. That's the kind of conscientious person he is. That's why he's loved by everyone as a valued colleague.
(Interviewed on February 21, 2023)
