JITCO

Annual Meeting with Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration

JITCO held a Annual Meeting with Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (MOM&T) in Indonesia on June 4 to exchange information mainly on the current activities and future follow-up plans.

Annual Meeting with MOM&T
(Director General Mr. Besar Setyoko:2nd person from the left)

1. Update on Indonesian trainees accepted in Japan
First of all, JITCO explained that the total number of foreign trainees/interns dispatched to Japan has been increasing but the number of Indonesian trainees/interns is falling.  Also, indicated that though their diligence and mild characteristics are highly regarded by the accepting organizations, not many Japanese companies are aware of this that it hopes that such good reputation will take root in Japan.
Moreover, in order to maintain average number of trainees from various countries, Indonesian organizations are expected to take aggressive measures to increase the number of trainees.

2. Update on trainee dispatch from Indonesia
In response to JITCO, MOM&T commented that though they are implementing various measures to increase the number of trainees, they have not been successful and asked for JITCO's advice (at the same time, they stressed that the content of training shall not be sacrificed due to increase in the number of trainees).
JITCO proposed that whenever it uploads articles on Annual Meeting with Indonesia, it will include text for accepting any inquiries from those organizations interested in accepting trainees/technical interns from Indonesia and they agreed.
Moreover JITCO requested for assignment of staffs with Japanese communication skills within MOM&T and certified sending organizations so that the accepting organizations in Japan can communicate with Indonesian counterparts.
MOM&T reported that the government ordinance has been established last year to define the screening standards for sending organizations.

3. Run-away countermeasure
JITCO reported that the number of run-away trainees is falling but it is increasing in fishery industry, for which the trainees are expected to increase.  As such, it was requested to lay out necessary measures to solve the problem.  In response, MOM&T explained that they have decided to ask the families of the trainees to submit written guarantees, to distribute guidebooks to trainees and to dispatch mental healthcare consultant to Japan in the near future to handle any problems that the trainees may face including religious matters.

4. Current follow-up support for returnees
The ministry explained that it focuses on job placement support for the returnees, including providing advice on bank loans for those technical interns intending to establish their own businesses.  Moreover, it reported that network among the trainees/interns and alumni associations are being setup among the returnees.

[Reference]
Discussion with Asian Development Bank Indonesian Representative Office
In addition to above meetings, JITCO met with the economists at ADB office in Jakarta.  JITCO outlined its activities and the economists commented that promotion of new business establishment would be highly significant considering the facts that 1) recently, labor productivity in Indonesia is falling, 2) under such situation, technological productivity improvement programs (including those supported by JITCO) have significant meaning and 3) there are few jobs available in Indonesia.