Jakarta. A Japanese diplomat recently commented on the soaring inflow of Indonesian workers to his country, saying that employers usually find Indonesians hard-working.

Nikkei Asia recently reported that the number of Indonesian workers in Japan had jumped by 192.2 percent in five years to 121,507 people compared to 2018 figures. Indonesians consider Japan an attractive destination for work due to the higher pay.

On Tuesday evening, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masaki Yasushi revealed to the press why employers in his country like working with Indonesians.

“I think Indonesians are very diligent in their work. And they have this close bond with Japanese culture. That makes it easier for [Indonesian workers] to enter Japan’s workforce,” Masaki told reporters in his Jakarta residence.

According to Masaki, Indonesian nationals in Japan usually have jobs in sectors such as agriculture, fishery, nursing care, and manufacturing. The envoy also said that Japan would like to see more Indonesians join its foreign workforce. Working abroad will help Indonesian citizens hone their skills.

“So they [the Indonesian citizens] can come back home with advanced skills. This will benefit both countries,” Masaki said.

Masaki added: “We will also ensure a very safe and comfortable working environment for Indonesians [in Japan].”

Indonesia’s total population stands at least 270.2 million people. About 70.72 percent of them are of the productive age group (15-64 years old), according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). 

Japan today struggles with an aging population. BBC last year reported that one in 10 people in Japan were aged 80 or older. The country also has one of the world’s lowest birth rates.