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First batch of nurses leaves for Japan
Singing the famous Japanese oldie "Kokoro no Tomo", hundreds of Indonesian nurses and caregivers spent their last hours on home soil on Thursday before leaving for Japan to work
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Singing the famous Japanese oldie "Kokoro no Tomo", hundreds of Indonesian nurses and caregivers spent their last hours on home soil on Thursday before leaving for Japan to work.
"Kokoro no Tomo" means a bosom friend. Just like the song, you'll find good friends in Japan. Make as many friends as you can, so you can get over the homesick feeling you might get," Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Kojiro Shiojiro told the Indonesian migrant workers gathered at his residence.
Shiojiro and Indonesian Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno saw off 205 nurses and caregivers, the first batch of Indonesian skilled workers to enter the Japanese labor market as part of an economic partnership agreement (EPA) signed by the two countries earlier this year. Under the EPA, Indonesia will send a total of 1,000 nurses and caregivers to Japan by 2009.
"Don't forget to promote our culture in Japan. You can even consider starting a batik business there," Erman joked, to the laughter of the migrant workers.
The workers will take a six-month Japanese language course before they continue with the rest of their employment contracts, which last between three and four years.
Erman said the nurses and caregivers would have to pass the Japanese skill examination before being allowed to work.
"The Japanese government said it was happy to welcome Indonesian professional workers. And for us, this is an opportunity to prove to the world we have high quality workers," Erman said.
Male nurse Rudi, 27, said he and his friends were offered salaries ranging from Rp 15 million to Rp 20 million per month.
"Of course we have to perform well to show we deserve the salary," Rudi said.
Another nurse, Gusti Ayu Eka, 23, said all the nurses needed a minimum of 2 years' work experience to qualify for the program. Eka previously worked in a health clinic in Bali.
"Because we are the first batch of this program, we must work hard to build a good image of Indonesian workers. Our performance will affect the continuation of the program," she said.
Jumhur Hidayat, head of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI), said the employment of Indonesian nurses and caregivers would lead to further cooperation in the employment sector.
"I was informed Japan needs some 600,000 caregivers in the next seven years because the number of aging people there is on the rise due to high standards of living," Jumhur said.
The EPA, signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Aug. 20, 2007, in Jakarta, is designed to strengthen bilateral economic relations between the Asian nations.
It addresses trade tariffs, investment and migration. It also covers a capacity building program in Indonesia under the Manufacturing Industrial Development Center for the automotive, petrochemical, food and beverage, equipment and small and medium enterprise sectors.
