Japan's Internship Program Removal: KBRI Calls for Indonesian's Attention

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Tokyo publicly called for Indonesians to adhere to the Japanese government’s latest decision on erasing internship programs for workers who originate from developing countries. 

"We suggest that all conditions related to visas and residence permits here would be followed correctly," said the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan John Tjahjanto Boestami in Tokyo on May 4, state news agency Antara reported. 

Boestami asserted that the unclear status due to inappropriate work or residence visas will cause various obstacles to problems in the future.

The Ambassador also encouraged Indonesians residing in Japan to act as appropriately as guests and obey local regulations. 

The population of Indonesians in Japan currently amounts to 67,000 people, which is an increase compared to the 60,000 people before the coronavirus pandemic hit globally. However, as of June 2022, the Japanese immigration report suggests the number had reached 83,000 people, with 44,000 of them being internship-program workers. 

Moreover, the specified skilled workers (SSW) from Indonesia reach nearly 10,000 people. 

The Japanese Government Panel proposed the removal of the internship program on April 10 because it was considered controversial due to a lot of harassment and discrimination.

There are at least five important points in the panel's results, namely removing the internship program and replacing it with a human resource procurement and development program (HR), adjusting the field and type of new work with SSW fields, and working to make it easier for participants to transfer status to the program, providing concessions for participants to change companies in the same type of work.

ANTARA

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