Indonesia, Japan deepen labor cooperation to develop skilled workers
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar discussed the initiative during a bilateral meeting with Japanese Minister of Justice Hiraguchi Hiroshi in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday (July 28).
According to a statement received here on Wednesday, the two sides reviewed progress on finalising the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on the Employment Skill Development Program (ESDP) and extending the MoC on the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program, which serve as the legal framework for labor cooperation between the two countries.
Indonesia also proposed a clearer and more transparent transition mechanism allowing ESDP participants to move into the SSW scheme, providing greater certainty for Indonesian workers seeking long-term career opportunities in Japan.
“The cooperation is not merely about expanding access to overseas employment, but also about building Indonesian human resources that are competitive, protected, and capable of competing globally,” Minister Iskandar said.
He also introduced the government’s SMK Go Global programme, which is designed to equip vocational high school graduates with skills that meet international labor market demands, including those in Japan.
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According to Iskandar, strengthening workforce competencies from the education stage is essential to ensure Indonesian youth are prepared not only to enter the workforce, but also to fill growing demand for skilled workers abroad.
Indonesia also urged Japan to consider a visa fee facilitation scheme for Indonesian migrant workers departing through official recruitment channels.
The proposal aims to keep placement costs affordable while encouraging more prospective workers to choose legal, safe, and protected migration pathways.
Indonesia further called for expanding the SSW Test Center network, particularly in regions with the largest numbers of prospective migrant workers, to improve access to competency certification required for employment in Japan.
He said the Coordinating Ministry would continue strengthening coordination among ministries and government agencies to ensure international cooperation delivers tangible benefits for Indonesian citizens.
“What we want to build is not only access to overseas employment, but also an empowerment ecosystem that produces skilled, protected, and competitive Indonesian workers capable of improving their families’ welfare,” Minister Iskandar said.
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Translator: Anita Permata Dewi, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak