Shirakawa Village Establishes Second 'Specific Regional Development Business Cooperative' in Gifu Prefecture: Shirakawa-go Wakuwaku Works Cooperative

Shirakawa Village Establishes Second 'Specific Regional Development Business Cooperative' in Gifu Prefecture: Shirakawa-go Wakuwaku Works Cooperative

Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture, has established the 'Shirakawa-go Wakuwaku Works Cooperative' as a new mechanism to promote the settlement of migrants and ensure local businesses can secure stable human resources. This is the second cooperative of its kind in Gifu Prefecture. It aims to create stable jobs throughout the year, resolving labor shortages and simultaneously promoting migration and residency.

### Background

Shirakawa Village faces challenges with population decline and labor shortages. While labor needs are increasing, particularly in the tourism sector due to the recovery in demand, work opportunities in sectors such as agriculture and daily life services vary significantly by season and time. Consequently, it has been difficult for individual businesses to offer year-round employment, and migrants have struggled to find stable jobs.

To address this issue, the 'Shirakawa-go Wakuwaku Works Cooperative' was established utilizing the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' 'Specific Regional Development Business Cooperative' system and has now commenced operations.

### Working as a 'Multi-Worker' in a Village with a World Heritage Site

The Shirakawa-go Wakuwaku Works Cooperative hires migrants as full-time employees and dispatches them to multiple businesses within the region, ensuring employment opportunities throughout the year. The work features 'multi-working,' which combines diverse tasks according to the season and time of day, fostering human resources who support the region and contributing to regional community maintenance and economic revitalization.

#### Seasonal Work Style (Image)

- Spring-Autumn: Agriculture (planting, rice paddy management, etc.) - Year-round: Tourist information centers, parking management, cleaning services - Winter: Food and beverage, manufacturing, service industries

### Benefits for Migrants

You can work stably as a full-time employee while accumulating experience in multiple workplaces. This allows you to explore working and living in Shirakawa Village and discover the working style that suits you.

- Stable full-time employment (monthly salary, social insurance included) - Ability to experience multiple jobs - Leads to future employment or entrepreneurship

### Benefits for Shirakawa Village

This serves as a mechanism to support regional sustainability.

- Resolution of chronic labor shortages - Talent adjustment during busy and slow seasons - Revitalization through the influx of younger generations

### Future Outlook

We will gradually expand our human resource acceptance. In the future, we aim for the talent who have worked for the cooperative to settle in the region, leading to direct employment or entrepreneurship, thereby aiming for sustainable regional development.

### Cooperative Overview

- Name: Shirakawa-go Wakuwaku Works Cooperative - Location: Shirakawa Village, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture - Email: [email protected] - Date of Certification by Gifu Prefecture: March 17, 2026 - Commencement Date: April 1, 2026 - Number of Host Businesses: Approximately 5 - Major Industrial Sectors: Agriculture, manufacturing, food and beverage, tourism services, lifestyle services, etc. - Website: [https://smout.jp/areas/1040/](https://smout.jp/areas/1040/)