August 13, 2025 | 08:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Minister of Migrant Workers Protection (P2MI), Abdul Kadir Karding, said that Indonesia has dispatched 10,000 workers to Japan through the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) scheme.
"Currently, Japan is facing a super-aging population, while Indonesia has a demographic bonus," said Karding at an event titled "Strengthening Workforce Diplomacy: Indonesia Strategic SSW Expansion to Japan" organized by the Indonesian Business Council (IBC) in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 13, 2025, as quoted from Antara.
Karding emphasized the need for concrete steps to optimize the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Japan through the SSW scheme. The aging population in Japan, with a significantly high proportion of elderly citizens, has lowered the number of local productive workers in the country.
"Indonesia was able to send 10,000 workers through the SSW scheme, with a total of around 10,181," said Karding, while stressing the importance of collaboration with entrepreneurs to broaden Indonesia's access to the Japanese market.
"Hopefully, by involving IBC and the network of entrepreneurs in IBC, we can open up cooperation with Japanese companies," he said.
Karding emphasized that the improvement of the quality and competence of the workforce is the key to ensuring the appropriate placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Japan. "There needs to be an improvement in the quality of Indonesian migrant workers through training, certification, and competency alignment or recognition," he said.
IBC and the Ministry of P2MI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strategic Collaboration to Strengthen the Ecosystem for the Placement of Skilled Indonesian Migrant Workers. The collaboration includes improving placement governance, expanding international labor market access, enhancing the quality of training and certification, financing solutions, and strengthening the protection system for migrant workers before, during, and after working overseas.
During the same event, IBC CEO Sofyan Djalil emphasized that the opportunities for workers with specific skills (Specified Skilled Worker/SSW) in Japan are not only about the placement of labor, but also about building Indonesia's stance as a supplier of excellent talent on a global level.
"The opportunity of 820,000 positions in Japan until 2029 is a strategic chance for Indonesia to strengthen our workforce competitiveness," said Sofyan.
Sofyan stated that the current challenge is how to bridge the gap with other countries and ensure that Indonesian migrant workers not only ready to work but also be recognized as high-quality workers.
Indonesia currently only contributes 12 percent to Japan's SSW Scheme, far behind Vietnam, which has reached 59 percent. This shows a significant gap in workforce competitiveness and readiness.
Based on IBC Institute's analysis, the placement of migrant workers has the potential to lower the national unemployment rate by 0.28 percent and generate foreign exchange earnings of up to Rp440 trillion. This potential can be achieved if the placement of Indonesian migrant workers is increased by 30 percent and expanded to the medium-skilled segment.
Editor’s Choice: Indonesian Workers Demand Minimum Wage Increase in Nationwide Protest
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Former Indonesian Presidents, Vice Presidents to Attend 2025 MPR Annual Session
21 menit lalu
Neither former President Megawati Soekarnoputri nor Joko Widodo has confirmed their attendance at the 2025 MPR annual session.
Indonesia Deports 11 Vietnamese Found Working in Jakarta
2 jam lalu
The clinic staff in PIK, Jakarta, Indonesia, is being uncooperative towards Immigration officers.
Indonesia to Airdrop 800 Tons of Humanitarian Aid into Gaza
2 jam lalu
Indonesia deploys the second Garuda Merah Putih Task Force for a humanitarian mission to Gaza, Palestine, through an airdrop mechanism.
Vietnam Disqualified, Indonesia Advances to Volleyball World Championship Round of 16
3 jam lalu
The Indonesian U-21 Women's National Volleyball Team has advanced to the round of 16 of the World Championship after Vietnam was disqualified.
Indonesia's 80th Independence Day Ceremony at Merdeka Palace 70% Ready
4 jam lalu
Minister Prasetyo Hadi said preparations for Indonesia's 80th Independence Day in Jakarta are nearly complete.
Indonesia-Australia Research Partnership Tackles Food and Water Crises
4 jam lalu
At the ANU-KONEKSI Forum in Jakarta, Indonesian and Australian experts joined to develop climate-resilient rice and solar desalination technology.
Indonesian House Speaker Urges Concrete UN Measures to End Gaza Crisis
7 jam lalu
In the letter, the Indonesian House Speaker referenced the most recent reports from United Nations agencies regarding the Gaza crisis.
Indonesian Workers Demand Minimum Wage Increase in Nationwide Protest
8 jam lalu
What wage increase are workers demanding during the upcoming simultaneous protest across 38 provinces?
M4.7 Earthquake in Indonesia's Southern Waters Rattles Sukabumi to Tasikmalaya Regions
9 jam lalu
The earthquake's epicenter was located in the sea at a distance of 82 kilometers southwest of Bandung Regency, Indonesia.
Indonesia Aims to Double Trade with Peru Through CEPA Agreement
9 jam lalu
Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso aims to double Indonesia's trade with Peru through the Indonesia-Peru Comprehensive Economic Agreement /IP CEPA
