AP2LN pushes for internship quality improvement ahead of Japan's system changes
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Association of Overseas Internship Organisers (AP2LN) is pushing for an increase in the quality of overseas internship management in response to changes in Japan’s foreign labour system, which are set to take effect in April 2027.
AP2LN General Chairman Firman Budiyanto stated in a briefing in Jakarta on Thursday that these changes present an opportunity to strengthen the overall quality of the Indonesia-Japan internship ecosystem. He noted that this transition requires readiness from all stakeholders, including participants, organising institutions, and the government.
“The shift towards ‘Ikusei Shuro’ is a momentum for Indonesia to improve the quality of prospective participants from within the country. Strengthening education, Japanese language proficiency, competency certification, as well as mental and cultural readiness before departure is becoming increasingly important so that participants can meet the standards set by Japan and adapt to the working environment there,” he said.
The Japanese government will implement a new work and training system called ‘Ikusei Shuro’ starting 1 April 2027. This programme will replace the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), with an orientation that focuses more on competency development and meeting Japan’s human resource needs, including skill development towards the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) standard.
According to Firman, this systemic change also requires internship organising institutions in Indonesia to adjust their regulations, training standards, and programme implementation mechanisms.
Therefore, as the association overseeing Labour Training Institutions-Sending Organisations (LPK-SO), AP2LNP is encouraging capacity building to ensure the transition process is orderly and provides optimal benefits for participants.
Furthermore, AP2LN is closely monitoring ongoing discussions regarding the potential transfer of authority for managing overseas internships from the Ministry of Manpower to the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection (KP2MI).
He believes that regulatory certainty and programme continuity must be a shared concern. AP2LN appreciates the role of the Ministry of Manpower in building, fostering, and supervising the overseas internship ecosystem, including the long-standing cooperation with the Japanese Government.
At the same time, the migrant worker protection function, which is the focus of KP2MI, is also considered vital to ensure the safety, welfare, and fulfilment of the rights of Indonesian citizens abroad.
“We view the function of internship development and the function of migrant worker protection as two equally important aspects. Therefore, what is needed is coordination and synergy so that any changes in governance will still consider the characteristics of Ikusei Shuro, the continuity of Indonesia-Japan bilateral cooperation, and the readiness of all stakeholders,” said Firman.
AP2LN hopes that with better preparation domestically and governance that provides certainty, Indonesia-Japan cooperation in the field of human resource development can continue to develop sustainably. On the other hand, the implementation of Ikusei Shuro is also part of a joint effort to improve the quality of Indonesian human resources to be competent and internationally competitive.