異業種への転職可能に　技能実習修了後も対象―入管庁

　出入国在留管理庁は２５日、技能実習を修了した外国人が新型コロナウイルス感染拡大の影響で帰国できない場合、異なる職種への転職を認めると発表した。来月上旬から希望者の申請を受け付ける。就労期間は最長１年で、人手不足が深刻な農業や飲食料品製造業などを想定している。
　これまで、新型コロナを受けた技能実習生への支援策では、実習中に失業したケースに限り、職種をまたいだ転職を認めてきた。既に実習を終えた場合には、帰国が困難であれば同じ職種に限り就労継続は可能だった。
　ただ、企業の活動縮小などで新たな働き口が見つからないことも多いことを踏まえ、他の職種への転職を認めることにした。
　また、新型コロナの影響で生活に困っている外国人を対象に、電話相談窓口も来月１日に開設する。日本語を含む１４言語に対応。電話番号はフリーダイヤル（０１２０）７６２０２９。（2020/08/25-11:36）

Japan's Immigration Services Agency said Tuesday it will allow foreigners who completed technical training courses to get jobs outside their area of specialization if they are unable to return to their countries due to the coronavirus pandemic.
   In early September, the agency will start accepting applications for up to one year of employment under the new program, which is intended to rescue former trainees having difficulty finding jobs in Japan at a time when many companies are scaling down their businesses and cutting job openings amid the health crisis.
   The agency expects applicants to find jobs in agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing and other sectors suffering severe personnel shortages.
   Currently, foreigners who find it difficult to return to their countries after completing the Japanese technical intern training program are allowed to continue to work only in the same job category. The agency has already introduced a coronavirus support measure to allow foreigners who became unemployed while still on their training courses to find new jobs outside their area of specialization.
   The agency will set up a toll-free telephone hotline at 0120-762029 on Sept. 1 to offer consultations to foreigners having trouble making a living due to the pandemic. The service will be available in 14 languages, including Japanese.