Jakarta Residents Seeking Work Abroad to Receive Language Training

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung is preparing a training programme for Jakarta residents who want to work abroad but face difficulties with foreign languages.

He announced the plan while attending the 2026 Jakarta Career and Independent Employment Expo at SMESCO in South Jakarta on Thursday (22 October).

“Those whose language skills are not yet good can make use of a facility provided by the Jakarta government called the Mobile Training Centre,” Pramono said.

Pramono said Jakarta had co-operation agreements with several countries and foreign cities to open up job opportunities. He named Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Germany.

Despite these partnerships, he said language remained an obstacle for jobseekers. He had therefore instructed the head of the Jakarta Manpower Office to address the problem.

“I have asked the head of Jakarta’s Manpower Office to provide language training for those who want to work abroad but whose language skills are not yet good,” he said.

The training will be facilitated by the Jakarta Provincial Government through its Mobile Training Centre, also known as the Mobile Training Unit. However, no official details about how the programme will be implemented have been provided.

“I have asked for it to be organised, even if the numbers may initially be below expectations, because these activities also require funding. But, once again, the Jakarta government very much hopes that jobseekers will not only be able to work in Jakarta, but can also be placed in jobs abroad,” he said.

Employment is one of the Jakarta Provincial Government’s priorities. Pramono also referred to the capital’s open unemployment rate.

“Jakarta’s open unemployment rate has now fallen to 5.79 per cent, but I hope the head of the office can bring it down to 3.5 per cent,” he said.

He had previously presented the figures at a press conference on the realisation of the 2026 Regional Budget for the third quarter. Alongside the fall in open unemployment, the Jakarta Provincial Government recorded a decrease in the proportion of people living in poverty to 3.96 per cent. The labour force participation rate rose to 66.05 per cent.