VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

KBRN, Tokyo: The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower has accepted a proposal to extend the validity period of the Memorandum of Cooperation Specified Skilled Worker (MoC SSW) which will expire in June 2024 in a meeting with Japanese representatives in Tokyo.

In a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/4/2024), Secretary General of the Ministry of Manpower Anwar Sanusi said Indonesia accepted the proposal in a meeting with Director General of the Residency Management and Support Department, Immigration Services Agency of the Ministry of Justice of Japan, Fukuhara Nobuko in Tokyo, Japan. Secretary General of the Ministry of Manpower Anwar explained that previously the proposal to extend the SSW MoC had been received by the Ministry of Manpower on 31 October 2023 and 3 April 2024.

"In principle, we can accept the proposal to extend the validity period of the MoC SSW Indonesia - Japan without any amendments until the issuance of new Japanese Government policies related to the acceptance of foreign workers in Japan. Especially in the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) system and the SSW system," Anwar said.

The Ministry of Manpower is also enthusiastic and welcomes the latest information from the Japanese Ministry of Justice regarding the new policy of accepting foreign workers in Japan in the TITP and SSW systems. "I strongly support the implementation of this MoC and welcome the extension or renewal of this MoC," said Anwar Sanusi.

He said during the five years of implementation of the SSW programme, the number of participants was still far from the target. For this reason, the Ministry of Manpower hopes that both parties, namely the Governments of Indonesia and Japan, will conduct a joint evaluation of the MoC so that implementation can be easier, smoother, and more optimal in the future. Anwar Sanusi also hopes that a large number of Indonesian workers can work in Japan both through the SSW programme and new programmes that will be issued by the Japanese Government. "Including other programmes issued by the Japanese Government in order to open up employment opportunities for foreign workers in Japan," he said.

Previously, Secretary General of the Ministry of Manpower Anwar Sanusi also met with Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Kikuchi Hiroshi. Anwar proposed the opening of four new SSW fields, from 14 sectors to 18 sectors. Another proposal is the establishment of a category (1) SSW quota of 820,000 workers for the period 2024-2029. (Daniel).