Filipino housekeepers mop up growing demand across Japan

Japan’s housekeeping services market has been expanding as the number of dual-income households increases

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

“[Filipinos] are friendly and easy to talk to and they work seriously, so I can feel at ease,” the client said.

Before 2015, only certain households, such as those of foreign diplomats, had been allowed to employ foreign housekeepers. But a legal change that year, aimed at increasing women’s workforce participation 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 especially employing Filipino housekeepers. It now operates in parts of Tokyo, and neighbouring prefectures of Kanagawa, Osaka and Hyogo with more than 200 Filipino staff working as full-time employees.