German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday was given a tour of a German language school in Indonesia as part of an effort to recruit specialized foreign workers from the southeast Asian archipelago.
Germany’s demographics are thus that its population is ageing, unlike Indonesia’s. The fourth most-populous nation in the world behind India, China and the US, Indonesia is also the world’s largest Muslim nation and half of its 284 million citizens are under the age of 30.
Our cooperation in training skilled workers, including in healthcare, benefits both sides: Germany gains urgently needed professionals, while trainees get real career opportunities to build a future in Germany. – @AussenMinDE in Jakarta 3/3
In the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Wadephul spoke with young Indonesians about their plans for the future while visiting a nursing school. Wadephul made the visit accompanied by Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Contanze Michel, director of the Goethe Institute Indonesia, which is responsible for coordinating language classes at the school.
Language hurdles have proven to be a significant barrier to would be immigrants from abroad. While in Indonesia, Wadephul signed contracts for the creation of four further language schools.
Germany is keenly interested in recruiting healthcare workers but Jakarta is pushing for recruits to other sectors, too, such as the hospitality sector.
Currently, however, only about 1,000 work visas are issued to Indonesians each year — Berlin says impediments to date have been lack of education, inadequate language skills and lack of German recognition of foreign training certificates and titles.
Wadephul will visit both Christian and Muslim houses of worship before concluding his trip, as well as touring a factory owned by German automobile and truck giant Daimler Truck AG.
Photo: Foreign Minister Wadephul and his Indonesian counterpart Sugiono.
