Japan needs 1,000 Indonesian workers

"This is the first time that the Japanese government made a formal request for Indonesian workers," President Director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Jakarta Kusaoke Sadanobu said at a seminar on Indonesia-Japan bilateral trade opportunities, in Manado last Wednesday.

Potential nurses and caregivers, Kusaoke said, before leaving for Japan for employment, would first have to undergo a series of tests and interviews.

"And upon arrival in Japan, they will have to follow special trainings to be obtain a Japanese national certificate with the expenses borne by the Japanese government," Kusaoke said.

Deputy for coordination of economic cooperation and international funding at the Ministry of Economic Affairs Mahendra Siregar said according to the manpower ministry, 300 people were already set to leave for Japan to take up the two jobs.

"The Indonesian government will try until the end of 2009 to meet the Japanese request for 1,000 Indonesian workers for employment in Japan," Mahendra said.

He added that ...