The Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement Through the Eyes of Indonesian Applicants : A Survey and a Focus Group Discussion with Indonesian Nurses

In this research, the Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed on August 20, 2007 between the Indonesian and Japanese government was examined by carefully analyzing the quantitative and qualitative data obtained by a survey and a Focus Group Discussion held in Indonesian nurse applicants. The aim of the analysis is to observe the Indonesian nurses\u27 opinion about the agreement, and make classification of the issue by considering socio-economic and cultural background of both Indonesian and Japanese society. The result of this study indicated that information given to Indonesian applicants regarding the EPA program is limited, especially information on hospitals and certified care workers in Japan. On the other hand, the respondents\u27 image of Japan or Japanese culture was also limited. This may result in misunderstandings about their working condition in Japan, and thus make the Indonesian applicants dissatisfied. In order to accept more nurse and care workers from Indonesia, the Japanese government should provide more precise information on the aim, procedures and goals of the EPA program, as well as the job descriptions which distinguish nurses and certified care workers in Japan, especially when they open to the Indonesians the market of a new field of job, such as certified care workers