Ministry Of Manpower: Internship Participants To Japan Reached 85,415 People Since 1993

Overseas Apprenticeship Socialization to Japan which was held at the Mercure Hotel Samarinda, Monday, October 11. (Photo: M Ghofar/Antara)

JAKARTA - The Director General of Vocational Training and Productivity of the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) Budi Hartawan said the total number of participants from Indonesia who had apprenticed to Japan reached 85,415 people.

"Overseas apprenticeships, especially to Japan, have been going on since 1993, so far 85,415 young people have been sent to Japan," Budi said during the Socialization of Overseas Apprenticeships in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, reported by Antara, Monday, October 11.

According to him, many Japanese apprenticeship alumni have succeeded in working in companies, and many alumni have become entrepreneurs so they can open their own jobs.

A successful Japanese apprenticeship alumnus from the Province of East Kalimantan (Kaltim) is Syarif Taufik, because he already owns a coal mining company by the name of PT Dita Anugrah Perkasa.

The figure of Syarif Taufik, he continued, could be an influence for Indonesian youth, especially East Kalimantan youths to work and achieve success.

He also said that due to immigration restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic by the Japanese Government, since January 2021 the sending of apprenticeship participants to Japan was temporarily suspended, so that participants who had participated in the selection and training were already waiting to be dispatched.

His party has made efforts so that the Japanese Government can reopen the acceptance of apprenticeship participants from Indonesia, through the submission of a letter from the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziah to the Japanese Government.

"Our hope and of course all of us, the Japanese government can immediately accept apprenticeship participants in the near future, because many participants are waiting for their departure," said Budi.

To evaluate the implementation of the apprenticeship to Japan, on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, his party will hold periodic meetings through virtual meetings with the Organization for Technical Intern Training (OTIT) Japan and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, regarding the Socialization of Overseas Apprenticeships today, he said, 55 people came from elements of the Provincial Manpower Service, regencies/cities throughout East Kalimantan, as well as forums and associations related to the apprenticeship program.

"After participating in this socialization, participants can disseminate information to the community in their respective environments, so that wider opportunities will be opened, especially for the people of East Kalimantan to participate in the apprenticeship program," said Budi.