Indonesia Seeks Enhanced Nursing Partnership with Japan
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The Ministry of Manpower is actively fostering cooperation with Japan in the nursing sector, focusing on facilitating the placement of Indonesian migrant workers. This collaboration aims to address the acute shortage of nurses in Japan while providing employment opportunities for Indonesian workers.
Secretary-General Anwar Sanusi expressed optimism about the potential for substantial cooperation following a meeting with Japanese nursing industry representatives on Friday. “I understand that the demand for nurses, as mentioned, is very high,” he remarked during the meeting held at the Manpower Ministry’s office in Jakarta. He emphasized the importance of this partnership, particularly given Japan’s aging population.
Sanusi revealed that Indonesia and Japan are currently negotiating an extension to the Memorandum of Cooperation on Specified Skilled Workers (MoC SSW). This proposal was initially discussed in Tokyo last April with Fukuhara Nobuko, Director-General of the Residency Management and Support Department of the Immigration Services Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Justice.
At Friday’s meeting, Koji Kurusu, CEO of the Azalee Group, a nursing care service provider, expressed keen interest in collaborating with the Indonesian government to address Japan’s nursing workforce crisis. He proposed increasing the number of Indonesian nurses in Japan and suggested various areas for cooperation, including training programs, job creation, and technology exchange. Kurusu also offered to share Japan’s experiences in managing its aging population.
The Ministry of Manpower’s efforts to strengthen ties with Japan in the nursing sector underscore the commitment to providing valuable opportunities for Indonesian workers while contributing to international workforce needs.
