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' to facilitate the settlement of migrants and secure stable human resources for local businesses. By hiring migrants as full-time employees and dispatching them to multiple local businesses through seasonal 'multi-working,' the cooperative aims to realize year-round employment and revitalize the regional economy.
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- 📰 Published: May 28, 2026 at 20:00
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## 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: shirakawago.wakuwakuworks@gmail.com
- 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/)
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: shirakawago.wakuwakuworks@gmail.com
- 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/)
FAQ
白川郷わくわくワークス協同組合とはどのような組織ですか？
総務省の「特定地域づくり事業協同組合制度」を活用し、岐阜県白川村に設立された協同組合です。移住者を正社員として雇用し、地域の複数事業者へ派遣することで通年雇用を実現します。
マルチワークとは何ですか？
季節や時間帯に応じて、農業、観光、サービス業など多様な仕事を組み合わせて働く働き方です。この組合では、季節ごとに異なる現場で働くことで年間を通じた安定した収入と就業機会を確保します。
この組合に参加する移住者のメリットは何ですか？
正社員として雇用されるため月給制で社会保険が完備されており、安定して働けます。また、複数の職種を経験できるため、自身のスキルアップや将来の起業に向けたキャリア形成が可能です。
白川村がこの組合を設立した目的は何ですか？
慢性的な人手不足の解消、観光業や農業における繁忙期と閑散期の労働力調整、および若い世代の移住定住を促進し、地域社会の維持と持続可能な地域づくりを目指すためです。
事業開始日はいつですか？
2026年4月1日に事業を開始しました。