Expanding skilled-worker mobility: comparing the migration of Indonesian careworkers to Taipei,China and Indonesian nurses and careworkers to Japan

Abstract

Indonesia has long been a source country for health professionals migrating to receiving countries with ageing populations and labor shortages. This chapter discusses debt-financed migration of Indonesian careworkers to Taipei,China, and the mobility of Indonesian nurses and careworkers under the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA). The discussion focuses on the existing barriers to international mobility experienced by Indonesian health careworkers in both destinations—namely placement costs, placement cost financing system, qualification of workers, and cultural barriers. Policy measures to tackle these barriers and key issues are also discussed. The chapter concludes with some lessons learned on achieving skill mobility in the ASEAN Economic Community.