Guide to the use of "specified skills" in hotel guest room cleaning｜Accommodation vs. building cleaning

We receive many inquiries from hotel and inn owners and cleaning companies who want to hire foreign nationals with specific skills for guest room cleaning.

In fact, when hiring a foreigner with specific skills in room cleaning,Employment in the "Lodging Sector"The way to do it and the way to do it,Hired as "Building Cleaning FieldDepending on which method is chosen, the requirements that a business must meet and the scope of work in which the business can be engaged will differ greatly.

In this issue, we will discuss the differences between them and the particular hurdles that tend to be encountered.Registration Requirements for "Building Cleaning FieldThis section provides a detailed explanation of the

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1. comparison of "lodging sector" and "building cleaning sector

Which field you should hire depends primarily on who your employer is and what type of work you want them to perform.

Comparison items	lodging sector	Building Cleaning Field
Main Employer	Hotel/Inn (direct employment)	Cleaning company (contractor)
Description of Business	Front desk, customer service, restaurant, etc. + cleaning	Can be dedicated to room cleaning, bed making, etc.
Main requirements for businesses	Licensed under the Inns and Hotels Law, membership in the Council	Registration of building cleaning business, etc.Membership in the Council
Foreigner Requirements	Passed the Accommodation Industry Proficiency Test	Passed the Building Cleaning Field Specific Skills Test No. 1

(1) When hiring in the "Accommodation Field

This pattern involves hiring hotel staff to clean guest rooms along with front desk duties and customer service.

• Notes: As a general rule, it is not acceptable to have a staff member concentrate solely on room cleaning. The staff must be engaged in a wide range of activities, including planning, public relations, customer service, and restaurant service.
• Subscribing Organization: Must join the "Accommodation Industry Specified Skills Council (Japan Tourism Agency)" within 4 months of employment.

(2) When hiring in the "building cleaning field

This is a pattern of employment as a cleaning specialist. This is the case when a cleaning company that is contracted by a hotel to do the cleaning work hires the employee.

• Benefits: The staff can be dedicated to cleaning guest rooms, making beds, and common areas.
• Notes: The employer must be registered as a "building cleaning business (No. 1 registration)" or "comprehensive building environmental sanitation management business (No. 8 registration)" by the prefectural governor.Essential RequirementsThe first two are the following.

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2. conditions for "business registration" which is mandatory in the building cleaning field

In order to be accepted for a specific skill (building cleaning), your company must be registered with one of the following

Building cleaning business (No. 1 registration)

This program is primarily for businesses that clean the interior of buildings.

1. Personnel Requirements:
   • Supervisor of cleaning operations(Building Cleaning Technician Level 1, etc.) is assigned to each sales office.
   • Appropriate training is provided to all employees at least once a year.
2. Physical Requirements:
   • The company must own and maintain its own vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, and other equipment.

Comprehensive building environmental sanitation management business (No. 8 registration)

The criteria for registration are stricter than those for registration No. 1.

1. Personnel Requirements: A "general manager," "supervisor of cleaning work," and "supervisor of HVAC water supply and drainage management" must be assigned.
2. Physical Requirements: Must possess advanced measurement equipment (air quality measurement, water quality measurement, etc.)

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3. summary: what if we don't have our own registration?

If you are considering employment in a specific skill (building cleaning),If an employer does not have these registrations, it cannot accept foreign nationals.The registration is valid for six years and requires continuous maintenance and system building.