The Indonesian Ministry of Health and the Government of Mie Prefecture in Japan signed a healthcare training cooperation MoU at the Mie Governor’s Office on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. The agreement was signed by Indonesia’s Director General of Health Workers, Arianti Anaya, and the Governor of Mie, Ichimi Katsuyuki, witnessed by the Indonesian Consul General in Osaka, John Tjahjanto Boestami. This MoU aims to implement a training cooperation program for Indonesian nurses and care workers, equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet Japan's professional workforce standards. Upon completing the training and meeting the qualification requirements, these healthcare professionals will be prepared to enter the Japanese labor market, specifically in Mie Prefecture. Arianti noted that Indonesia has around 1,170 nursing schools, 38 of which are under the Ministry of Health, producing approximately 50,000 graduates annually expected to meet Japan's demand.
The opportunity for Indonesian healthcare professionals in Japan is vast due to the country’s current labor deficit, expected to exceed 10.7 million workers by 2040, particularly in nursing and care work. Indonesian nurses and care workers have proven their ability to meet Japan’s job qualification standards. However, they face challenges such as mastery of the Japanese language, understanding Japanese culture and lifestyle, discipline, and other technical aspects. The Consul General emphasized that this MoU is a strategic breakthrough in addressing these challenges. This cooperation is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Japan, building on the agreement to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership by President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in September 2023.
