RRI


 

 Indonesia is exploring new opportunities to send migrant workers to Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) scheme, with protection and welfare emerging as the central focus of discussions.

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection (P2MI), Christina Aryani, met with representatives of the International Manpower Development Organization, Japan (IM Japan), at the P2MI Ministry office in Jakarta on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. 

During the meeting, IM Japan expressed interest in cooperating directly with P2MI Ministry to facilitate the placement of Indonesian workers in Japan.

Christina emphasized that any collaboration must deliver clear added value for Indonesian migrant workers, particularly in terms of protection. “If we cooperate, there must be tangible benefits for the workers. One of the most important aspects is protection,” she said, as quoted by Antara.

While IM Japan has long managed apprenticeship programs in partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower, Christina underscored the need for comprehensive safeguards for workers placed under the SSW scheme. 

She urged IM Japan to ensure proper handling from the moment workers arrive in Japan, including reception, guidance, and the availability of staff to provide immediate assistance in case of problems, ranging from mediation with employers to resolving disputes.

Beyond protection, Christina highlighted the importance of transparency in placement costs. All expenses must be clearly outlined from the start, including the division of financial responsibilities between workers and employers. 

“The cooperation we are pursuing is a government-to-private (G to P) scheme, with P2MI Ministry representing Indonesia and IM Japan on the Japanese side. The principle is that everything must be clear and protective of workers,” she stressed.

She also requested IM Japan to map out potential sectors and estimate labor demand, which will be further discussed in January as the basis for drafting a memorandum of understanding.

The cooperation is expected to cover 13 sectors under the SSW framework, including hospitality, aviation, food industry, building cleaning, industrial machinery, construction, and food processing.

Christina concluded by stressing the need to ensure that any agreement with IM Japan does not overlap with existing arrangements or memoranda of cooperation already established between Indonesia and Japan.