While speaking at the Indonesia-Japan Human Resources Forum 2024 in Tokyo on Thursday, she noted that Indonesia will experience a demographic dividend in 2035, when 70 percent of the country's population will be of working age.
In contrast, Japan is currently facing a decline in its working-age population.
“Demographic differences present a significant opportunity for both countries to complement each other and enhance cooperation,” she said.
The minister emphasized that bilateral relations between Indonesia and Japan, especially in the employment sector, have been very positive due to their strong partnership
One of the collaborations in the job sector has been the specified-skilled workers (SSW) program, which has opened up opportunities for the younger generations to pursue careers in Japan.
She noted that training programs and partnerships have significantly improved the quality of life for thousands of Indonesian workers in Japan.
Fauziyah also outlined nine measures her ministry has prepared to boost the competitiveness of the Indonesian workforce. These measures include transforming job training centers, enhancing employment linkages, expanding job opportunities, developing young talent, and broadening overseas job markets.
Additionally, the measures involve updating industrial relations, reforming supervision, developing the SIAPKerja digital ecosystem, and streamlining bureaucracy.
According to her, the SSW program does not only provide benefits to the Indonesian government but also the economies of both nations.
She also underscored that the success of the program will depend on the quality of human resources.
The Ministry of Manpower is targeting to send 100 thousand workers through the SSW program in the next five years.
Since 1993, the governments of Indonesia and Japan have cooperated in sending apprentices, whose number has reached 110 thousand.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi noted that 75 percent of Indonesians in Japan are migrant workers and apprentices.
The number of Indonesians in Japan has been increasing after the pandemic — from 90 thousand in 2022 to 120 thousand in 2023 and 150 thousand in 2024.
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Translator: Juwita Trisna, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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