"Before leaving for Japan, the 105 nurses and care givers followed a three-month Japanese language course in Jakarta. After they arrive in Japan, they will have to attend another intensive language course for six months before working as interns at various hospitals there for three and four years respectively," deputy chief of the Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Ade Adam Noh said a function to see off the 105 workers to Japan in Jakarta.
He said the three-month intensive language course for the skilled workers being held in Jakarta this year was the first-ever since the signing of an Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2008 which became the legal basis for the dispatch of Indonesian nurses and care givers to Japan.
He said the language course was important for the nurses and care givers in order to pass the national examination to get a license to work in Japan after finishing their internship.
"We hope we will hear more Indonesian nurses and care givers will pass the national examination in the future," he said.
A total of 791 Indonesian nurses and care givers have been working in Japan since 2008. Of the number, only 15 were able to pass the national examination to receive licenses to work in the country`s hospitals. The language barrier was said to be the main factor behind the failure of the nurses and care givers to pass the national examination
Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yoshinori Katori said the dispatch of Indonesian nurses and care givers to Japan was an important contribution to efforts to enhance the two countries` bilateral relations.
He encouraged the workers to intensively learn the Japanese language during their stay in Japan.
Meanwhile, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar who also attended the ceremony said he hoped more skilled Indonesian workers would be sent to Japan in the future , including those who work in such sectors as tourism and hospitality.
(T.A051/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
