April 25, 2020

Japan's dairy capital requests manpower from tourism sector

As Japan's dairy capital face labour woes, the Hokkaido government has turned to hotel and restaurant workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak to fill in the gap, reported Nikkei.

The Hokkaido government debuted a free platform on its website Thursday where employers can post job openings and contact information. Job seekers can browse the listings and contact potential employers directly.

The platform is open to all industries. But Hokkaido looks mainly to place laid-off workers from restaurants, hotels and other tourism-dependent businesses at farms that normally rely on foreign trainees for labour.

"Hokkaido's agriculture, which is critical to Japan's food supply, is facing a serious shortage as the farming season begins," the Hokkaido government website says.

Hokkaido has been a popular tourist destination among foreigners in recent years, thanks to its famous snow festival and seafood. But the island also plays an outsize role in Japan's agricultural industry, particularly dairy. Its name is considered a seal of quality by many in the country.

The programme also targets former Hokkaido residents who have temporarily returned home in light of the COVID-19.