Image sources: Indonesian Business Council (IBC)
Indonesia’s Strategic Push to Seize 820,000 Job Opportunities in Japan
The Indonesian Business Council (IBC) and the Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection are driving strategic reforms to increase Indonesian participation in Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program, which plans to absorb up to 820,000 foreign workers by 2029.
Indonesia’s current contribution to the program stands at only about 12 %, far behind countries like Vietnam at 59 %, highlighting a competitiveness gap that Jakarta aims to close.
The initiative emphasises expanding training, certification recognition, Japanese language proficiency, and worker protection — as well as removing barriers from recruitment to placement — through government, industry, and international partnerships. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed to formalise cooperation on governance, skills development, financing access, and safeguards for Indonesian workers.
According to the IBC Institute, increasing placement of Indonesian workers into the SSW program by 30 % could reduce national unemployment and generate significant foreign exchange benefits.
📌Industry Insight:
This reflects a shift from low-skilled outbound labour toward strategic workforce diplomacy — positioning Indonesian workers as competitive, certified talent in advanced job markets. It also highlights the critical role of policy alignment, training infrastructure, and bilateral cooperation in creating sustainable international job pathways.
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