Deputy Cooperatives Minister Farida Farichah underscored Indonesian cooperatives’ potential to produce skilled professional workers qualified for overseas employment as their businesses expand beyond savings, loan, and trade activities. Speaking at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday, Aug. 5, Farichah oversaw the departure of 86 Indonesian migrant workers bound for Japan under a specialized program run by the Kita Miraino Hikari Cooperative.
Funding and Modernization Through the Revolving Fund Management Agency
According to Farichah, the expansion of cooperative functions into international labor deployment relies heavily on modern digital tools and state financial backing. The Revolving Fund Management Agency (LPDB) of the Cooperatives Ministry disbursed Rp55 billion, equivalent to about US$3 million, in operational funding to support the initiative. This capital injection allows the cooperative to serve prospective workers without levying any guarantee fees.
“This is the government’s affirmation,” Farichah stated, noting that very low interest rates enable community empowerment. She added that the innovative financing scheme has even allowed select workers to go overseas without spending a single rupiah. Kita Miraino Hikari Cooperative Head Aditya Affasha Riawan confirmed that the deployment of the 86 skilled workers was achieved through a direct collaboration involving the ministry’s LPDB and a dedicated job training center.
Sector Breakdown and Deployment to Japan
The departing delegation consists of trained workers specializing in various industries, including hospitality and construction services. Riawan assured that the cooperative will maintain ongoing oversight and guidance for all 86 individuals throughout their employment terms in Japan. Farichah urged the workers to maintain high standards of integrity and professionalism to protect Indonesia’s international reputation, while actively building skills they can apply upon returning home.
Did You Know? The deployment of these 86 workers marks an expansion of Indonesian cooperatives beyond conventional savings, loan, and trade activities into international labor markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Kita Miraino Hikari Cooperative in this deployment?
The cooperative manages the deployment program for 86 Indonesian migrant workers heading to Japan, utilizing digital technology and collaborating with a job training center and the Cooperatives Ministry’s LPDB.
How much funding did the government provide for this initiative?
The Revolving Fund Management Agency (LPDB) of the Cooperatives Ministry disbursed Rp55 billion, which is approximately US$3 million, in operational funding.
What specific jobs are the migrant workers undertaking in Japan?
The delegation comprises trained workers specializing in sectors including hospitality and construction services.
How might this expansion into overseas employment reshape the daily operations of traditional Indonesian cooperatives in the coming years?
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