November 2013
Regular Discussions Held with Indonesian Government Liaison
On November 6, 2013, JITCO held regular discussions with the Department of Training and Productivity Development, Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (MOM&T), Indonesia. It also held an orientation for sending organizations and visited, among other things, a local business operated by a technical intern trainee who had returned to Indonesia.
At the regular discussions, MOM&T expressed its intention to utilize its vocational training facilities to enrich advance training for technical intern trainees. Also, MOM&T stated that to combat the recent rise in runaways, it plans to conduct thorough investigations in advance when selecting technical intern trainees and to explain clearly in advance training about life in Japan. As for JITCO, since it believes that greater utilization of returning technical intern trainees, such as their active hiring by local businesses, would contribute to the prevention of runaways, it proposed building a framework of cooperation between MOM&T and JITCO geared toward such utilization. In response to this, MOM&T said that while in Japan, the returning trainees are acquiring not only trade skills but also a Japanese-style service mentality, and the ministry would like to enable the returnees’ participation in a variety of industries in Indonesia. At the regular discussions, MOM&T expressed its intention to utilize its vocational training facilities to enrich advance training for technical intern trainees. Also, MOM&T stated that to combat the recent rise in runaways, it plans to conduct thorough investigations in advance when selecting technical intern trainees and to explain clearly in advance training about life in Japan. As for JITCO, since it believes that greater utilization of returning technical intern trainees, such as their active hiring by local businesses, would contribute to the prevention of runaways, it proposed building a framework of cooperation between MOM&T and JITCO geared toward such utilization. In response to this, MOM&T said that while in Japan, the returning trainees are acquiring not only trade skills but also a Japanese-style service mentality, and the ministry would like to enable the returnees’ participation in a variety of industries in Indonesia.
About 40 sending organizations attended the orientation for sending organizations held after the regular discussions. The Indonesian side had requested in advance an explanation about how the technical intern trainees’ safety and health is ensured in Japan, so JITCO explained the sending organizations’ role in terms of preventing accidents, etc., as well as points to keep in mind regarding such things as fishing boat accidents, bicycle accidents, brain disorders and cardiac disease, and mental health. It also emphasized that Japanese language ability is essential for ensuring personal safety in everyday life, and it pleaded the importance of Japanese language education in pre-dispatch training.
On the following day, November 7, the JITCO delegation visited (1) a local business (a printing and packaging business) operated by a returned technical intern trainee, (2) a Japanese-owned company (an auto parts business) in which returned technical intern trainees have been promoted as floor supervisors and managerial staff, and (3) the sending organizations’ Japanese language school.
At the business operated by a returned technical intern trainee, they received an overview of the business and were introduced to the “Returned Technical Intern Trainees Presidents Club,” a club for former trainees who started businesses after returning to their home country. The Presidents Club currently has more than 280 members, and they utilize an information network for members. The JITCO delegation learned that the various members are trying to expand their dealings, primarily with Japanese-owned companies, and would like to conduct activities that would serve as a “bridge” with Japan in the future.
At the Japanese-owned company, they learned about the success of returned technical intern trainees who were highly regarded for the Japanese language and technical skills they acquired in Japan and the manufacturing and quality control techniques they mastered at the business after returning to Indonesia, and who were thus promoted as floor supervisors and managerial staff.
At the sending organizations’ Japanese language school, the delegation observed detailed, hands-on Japanese language classes for trainees being conducted as part of their pre-dispatch training, tailored to varying levels of Japanese ability.
