Ministry of Manpower Strengthens Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers in Japan
The Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) is collaborating with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to enhance the quality of preparation and the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Japan. This is being achieved by improving training facilities, increasing instructor capacity, and aligning competencies with industry needs.
This strengthening initiative was a key topic at the concluding JICA-Kemnaker seminar, titled “Overview of the Kemnaker-JICA Cooperation Framework and Results (2023–2026),” held in Jakarta on Monday, August 24, 2026.
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The forum provided an opportunity to evaluate the outcomes of activities conducted between 2023 and 2026, draw lessons, and identify future development needs.
Cris Kuntadi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Manpower, stated that the results of the 2023–2026 activities have yielded valuable insights for improving the quality of preparation for Indonesian migrant workers heading to Japan.
According to him, increasing labor mobility must be accompanied by a focus on competency development and worker protection.
“The success of this collaboration should not be measured solely by labor placement statistics. The most important thing is to shift the mindset from mere labor placement to a human capital development partnership that offers comprehensive protection,” Cris said.
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This need is becoming increasingly critical as the number of participants in various Indonesian labor mobility programs to Japan continues to rise. Under the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), the number of participants rose from 43,145 in 2022 to 124,967 in 2025.
During the same period, the number of participants in the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program increased from 12,634 to 86,955.
To ensure this increase was accompanied by adequate preparation, an infrastructure assessment was conducted at 21 BBPVP/BPVP facilities.
The assessment aimed to verify whether the training facilities were capable of preparing future workers for their departure to Japan.
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Strengthening instructor capacity was also part of the program. A total of 200 instructors from seven training institutes participated in programs to improve their Japanese language skills. Additionally, 48 instructors from vocational training centers took part in Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions.
Future workers were also familiarized with the language, culture, ethics, discipline, and customs of the Japanese workplace. Information regarding migration was provided through workshops for migrants across nine regions, covering the stages of preparation, the employment period, and the time after their return.
Aligning competencies with industry needs in Japan was also pursued through a demand-driven approach. These activities included developing the SSW output matrix across 16 occupational fields and establishing networks with local governments in the prefectures of Miyagi, Mie, Ehime, Kagawa, Miyazaki, Yamaguchi, and Kumamoto.
The experiences of workers following their return to Indonesia were also highlighted. A total of 100 case studies of internship alumni were collected to document their work experiences, career paths, and business opportunities following the completion of the program in Japan.
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Cris emphasized that an increase in the number of departing workers must be accompanied by improvements in quality and worker protections. A high number of departing workers cannot be used as a benchmark for success without the right competencies, sufficient information, an understanding of the work environment, and guaranteed protection for the workers.
The results of activities during the 2023–2026 period will also serve as a basis for identifying future development needs, including tailoring training programs to the industry requirements of various Japanese prefectures.
Materials regarding language, work culture, and employment information can also be continuously developed to better prepare Indonesian workers for employment in Japan.
Regional needs will also be taken into account when developing networks with local governments and employers in Japan. This will ensure that the preparation of Indonesian workers is more effective and better aligned with labor market demands.
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“We are optimistic that the synergy between the Indonesian and Japanese workforces will evolve into a more strategic, concrete, and impactful partnership for mutual progress,” Cris concluded. ***rel
google translate
Kemnaker Perkuat Pelindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia ke Jepang
Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan (Kemnaker) bersama Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) terus memperkuat kualitas dan pelindungan tenaga kerja Indonesia yang bekerja di Jepang melalui penguatan fasilitas pelatihan, peningkatan kapasitas instruktur, serta penyesuaian kompetensi dengan kebutuhan industri.
Penguatan tersebut menjadi bagian dari JICA–Kemnaker Final Activity Sharing Seminar bertajuk “Overview of Kemnaker and JICA Cooperation Framework and Achievements 2023–2026” di Jakarta, Senin, 24 Agustus 2026.
Forum tersebut menjadi momentum untuk melihat capaian kegiatan selama 2023–2026 sekaligus mengidentifikasi pembelajaran dan kebutuhan pengembangan ke depan.
Sekretaris Jenderal Kemnaker Cris Kuntadi mengatakan, berbagai capaian kegiatan selama 2023–2026 memberikan pembelajaran penting dalam meningkatkan kualitas penyiapan tenaga kerja Indonesia ke Jepang.
Menurutnya, peningkatan mobilitas tenaga kerja perlu diiringi kesiapan kompetensi dan pelindungan pekerja.
“Keberhasilan kerja sama ini tidak boleh hanya diukur dari angka statistik penempatan tenaga kerja semata. Yang terpenting adalah menggeser paradigma dari sekadar penempatan tenaga kerja menjadi kemitraan pengembangan SDM yang memberikan pelindungan secara menyeluruh,” ujar Cris.
Kebutuhan tersebut semakin penting seiring meningkatnya jumlah peserta pada sejumlah skema mobilitas tenaga kerja Indonesia ke Jepang.
Pada Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), jumlah peserta meningkat dari 43.145 orang pada 2022 menjadi 124.967 orang pada 2025.
Sementara itu, peserta Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) bertambah dari 12.634 orang menjadi 86.955 orang pada periode yang sama.
Untuk memastikan peningkatan jumlah tersebut diikuti kesiapan yang baik, dilakukan survei infrastruktur terhadap 21 fasilitas BBPVP/BPVP.
Survei tersebut bertujuan memastikan fasilitas pelatihan mampu mendukung pembekalan calon pekerja sebelum berangkat ke Jepang.
Penguatan kapasitas instruktur juga menjadi bagian dari kegiatan. Sebanyak 200 instruktur dari tujuh lembaga pelatihan mengikuti peningkatan kemampuan bahasa Jepang. Sementara itu, 48 instruktur balai vokasi mengikuti Training of Trainers (ToT).
Calon pekerja juga dibekali bahasa, budaya, etika, kedisiplinan, dan kebiasaan di lingkungan kerja Jepang. Informasi mengenai migrasi diberikan melalui Migrant Literacy Workshop di sembilan daerah, mulai dari tahap persiapan, masa bekerja, hingga kepulangan.
Penyesuaian kompetensi dengan kebutuhan industri di Jepang juga dilakukan melalui pendekatan demand-driven. Kegiatan tersebut mencakup penyusunan SSW Output Matrix pada 16 bidang serta pembangunan jejaring dengan pemerintah daerah di Prefektur Miyagi, Mie, Ehime, Kagawa, Miyazaki, Yamaguchi dan Kumamoto.
Pengalaman pekerja setelah kembali ke Indonesia turut menjadi perhatian. Sebanyak 100 studi kasus alumni pemagangan disusun untuk mendokumentasikan pengalaman kerja, perjalanan karier, serta peluang usaha setelah menyelesaikan program di Jepang.
Cris menegaskan, peningkatan jumlah keberangkatan harus diikuti dengan peningkatan kualitas dan pelindungan pekerja. Tingginya jumlah keberangkatan belum dapat dijadikan ukuran keberhasilan apabila tidak disertai kompetensi yang sesuai, informasi yang cukup, pemahaman terhadap lingkungan kerja, serta jaminan pelindungan bagi pekerja.
Hasil kegiatan selama periode 2023–2026 juga menjadi bahan untuk mengidentifikasi kebutuhan pengembangan berikutnya, termasuk penyesuaian kurikulum pelatihan dengan kebutuhan industri di berbagai prefektur Jepang.
Materi bahasa, budaya kerja, dan informasi ketenagakerjaan juga dapat terus dikembangkan agar tenaga kerja Indonesia semakin siap bekerja di Jepang.
Kebutuhan setiap wilayah juga menjadi pertimbangan dalam pengembangan jejaring dengan pemerintah daerah dan pemberi kerja di Jepang. Dengan demikian, penyiapan tenaga kerja Indonesia dapat semakin efektif dan sesuai dengan kebutuhan dunia kerja.
“Kami optimistis sinergi ketenagakerjaan Indonesia-Jepang akan terus berkembang menjadi kemitraan yang semakin strategis, konkret, dan berdampak luas bagi kemajuan bersama,” pungkas Cris. ***rel
