Specified Skilled Worker Building Cleaning Jobs in Japan

Building cleaning is one of the SSW fields, covering the cleaning of the inside of buildings such as offices, hospitals, hotels, commercial facilities and stations. Typical work includes floor care with machines, cleaning toilets and shared areas, window and fixture cleaning and waste handling, usually following set routines and chemical-safety rules. For SSW (i) you generally need to pass the building cleaning skills test and either the JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher, unless related Technical Intern Training gives an exemption.

The field has a specific employer condition: the company must be registered with the prefecture as a building cleaning business or a comprehensive building sanitation management business. Cleaning private homes is not covered, so housekeeping services for households are a different matter. Employment must be direct. SSW (ii) in building cleaning is available for workers with experience leading a team who pass the higher-level test, allowing longer stays and family accompaniment.

A practical tip: cleaning contracts often run early in the morning or at night when buildings are empty, and you may move between several sites in one day. Ask where the sites are, how travel time between them is paid, and whether the company provides uniforms and safety training on cleaning chemicals. Experience with floor machines and team leading is worth building up if you plan to aim for SSW (ii).