New Job

KOMPAS/KHAERUL ANWAR

Migrant workers from the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, spend their free time working on Saturdays and Sundays at Taman Victoria Park, Hong Kong..

Indonesian migrant workers have found it difficult to find jobs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. A new breakthrough is needed to cope with the changes across the globe.

The Kompas daily reported on Monday (14/3/2022) that Indonesian migrant workers were experiencing difficulty in finding jobs throughout 2020 and 2021. Efforts to find placement in the usual destination countries for Indonesian migrant workers were hampered by travel restrictions that had been imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. They also faced difficulty finding jobs at home.

By working abroad, Indonesian workers can get not only better jobs but also better incomes. They also had a desire to develop their individual potential to gain international recognition.

Also read:

> Reality is Not as Good as it Appears on Paper

> Stories of Migrant Workers in Neighboring Countries

The labor market has changed globally as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital technology and the internet, as well as geopolitical tensions. We must be optimistic that these changes will give new hope to our workers, just as we know that the arrival of a new era always brings with it new opportunities.

Can we take advantage of the changes? There have been many reports about the creation of new jobs because of digital technology and the internet, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, which is expected to soon become an endemic. Some jobs will gradually disappear, but more new jobs will appear.

PANDU WIYOGA

A total of 29 illegal migrant workers from East Nusa Tenggara were rescued by the Riau Islands Police at Kijang Harbor, Bintan, Riau Islands, Monday (26/8/2019)..

Domestic and in-home caregiving services will be still needed in line with the increase in life expectancy. Jobs in the agriculture and industry sectors will also continue to exist to meet the growing demand for food. Jobs in health care will still exist amidst the growth of the remote healthcare industry.

The jobs that we have been unable to fill, even domestically, are in the information technology and digital fields. The creative industry, such as streaming content to support the increasing trend of work from home and the emerging domain of the metaverse, promises many new jobs.

Also read:

> Struggling to Find Livelihoods in Other Countries

> Migrant Workers Survive Amid Uncertainty

It is the government's responsibility to prepare our workforce to enter these new fields of work. There must be training to improve workers’ skills. Vocational training centers should be improved and linked to existing industries. In promoting digital literacy and providing a reliable and affordable digital infrastructure, our workforce will be able to work from anywhere, especially if they have support to become entrepreneurs.

The Manpower Ministry must prepare a strategic plan and coordinate with the education and creative economy ministries, as well as research bodies such as the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

We want overseas employers to be able to hire skilled workers and professionals from Indonesia in fields such as domestic services, agriculture, science, and computing. Thus, the welfare of workers will not only increase, but also the development of individual potentials, and Indonesia’s good name towards the generation of foreign exchange revenue.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.