Sanusi is also upbeat that a large number of Indonesian workers would work in Japan, either through the SSW program or new programs that will be issued by the Japanese Government.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Manpower, on Tuesday (Apr 23), received a proposal to extend the validity period of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) that will end in June 2024.

In a statement received here on Wednesday, the ministry's Secretary General Anwar Sanusi stated that Indonesia accepted the proposal during a meeting with Director General of the Department of Residency Management and Support, Immigration Services Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Justice, Fukuhara Nobuko, in Tokyo, Japan.

Sanusi explained that the proposed extension of the MoC on SSW had earlier been received by the Ministry of Manpower on October 31, 2023 and April 3, 2024.

"We can accept the proposal to extend validity period of the SSW MoC without any amendments until the Japanese Government issues a new policy regarding the acceptance of foreign workers in Japan, especially in the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) system and SSW system," he remarked.

The ministry also welcomes the latest information from the Japanese Ministry of Justice regarding new policies for accepting foreign workers in Japan in the TITP and SSW systems.

"I really support the implementation of this MoC and welcome the extension or renewal of this MoC," Sanusi stated.

He noted that during the five years of implementing the SSW program, the number of program participants was still far from the target.

Hence, the ministry expressed hope that the Governments of Indonesia and Japan would conduct a joint evaluation of the MoC, so that its implementation can be easier, smoother, and more optimal in future.

Sanusi is also upbeat that a large number of Indonesian workers would work in Japan, either through the SSW program or new programs that will be issued by the Japanese Government.

"This includes other programs issued by the Japanese Government in order to open up job opportunities for foreign workers in Japan," he remarked.

Sanusi also met with Commissioner of the Japanese Immigration Services Agency, Kikuchi Hiroshi and proposed opening four new SSW sectors, from 14 sectors to 18 sectors.

Another proposal is to set a quota for the SSW category number one of 820 thousand workers for the 2024-2029 period.

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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Katriana
Editor: Arie Novarina
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