On December 16, Beijing time, according to Japan's "Nikkei Asian Review", the Indonesian Ministry of Labor and the International Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan held the first joint human resources forum in Jakarta, and the two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation, agreeing that Indonesia will send 100,000 workers to Japan in the next five years to help Japan alleviate the labor shortage caused by the aging population, and also provide more employment opportunities and skills training for Indonesia.
According to reports, this is the largest cooperation agreement reached between Indonesia and Japan in the field of human resources, covering 14 industries, including nursing, construction, catering, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, etc. Indonesia's Minister of Labor Date said at the forum that Indonesia is in a period of demographic dividend and has a large number of young laborers, while Japan is facing the challenges of an aging population and insufficient labor, and the cooperation between the two sides will be conducive to solving social problems in both countries and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results. He said that Indonesia will fully support the employment and life of Indonesian workers in Japan, provide them with necessary skills and language training, and protect their rights and welfare.
Yamada, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, said at the forum that Japan welcomes outstanding Indonesian workers to work in Japan and contribute to Japan's economic and social development. He said that Japan will provide a fair and friendly working environment for Indonesian laborers, respect their culture and religion, and promote friendly exchanges between them and the Japanese people. He said that Japan will strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in the field of human resources and establish an effective and transparent information exchange platform to facilitate and guarantee the employment of Indonesian workers in Japan.
It is reported that Indonesia's plan to send 100,000 workers to Japan in the next five years is mainly based on Japan's "Specified Skills Worker Program" implemented in April 2019. The program aims to bring in foreign workers with certain skills and Japanese language proficiency to work in 14 specific industry sectors in Japan for a stay of up to five years. The aim of the plan is to alleviate the labor shortage caused by Japan's aging population, which is expected to need to bring in about 340,000 foreign workers by 2025. At present, nine countries and regions have signed relevant cooperation agreements with Japan, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Mongolia, Nepal, Myanmar and Uzbekistan.
According to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, as of October 2022, there were more than 1.82 million foreign workers in Japan, of which about 7At 790,000 are Indonesians, the sixth largest group of foreign workers after Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Brazil and Nepal. The number of Indonesians increased by 47 compared to the previous year5%, which is the fastest growth among major countries. Indonesians are mainly engaged in industries such as nursing, manufacturing, catering, tourism, etc. Indonesians have won praise from Japanese employers and colleagues for their hard-working, friendly, and trustworthy characteristics.
Cooperation between Indonesia and Japan in the field of human resources is not only conducive to the economic and social development of the two countries, but also conducive to the friendly relations between the two countries. Indonesia and Japan are important strategic partners, and the two sides have extensive cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, culture, and security. Indonesia is the leading country of ASEAN and an important partner of Japan in Southeast Asia. Japan is a major investor and partner of Indonesia, as well as an important provider of technology and assistance. The two sides have also maintained close communication and coordination in regional and international affairs to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.