REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUDUS -- Indonesian nurses are yet to benefit from the high global demand for nurses that has reached 16,000 per year, the Chief of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI), Nusron Wahid said.

"Until now, (Indonesian nurses) are yet to take these job opportunities. Because it would need some requirement to work abroad, including foreign language fluency and nursing certificates," Nusron said during a campaign for migrant workers placement and protection in Kudus, Friday.

The event was attended by nurses from Kudus, Demak, Jepara, Pati, Rembang and Blora districts.

Nusron said each country would need a different type of nursing certificate, but many countries would accept nurses who had passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).

He called on nurses to take the opportunity, especially given international recognition for the Indonesian nurses' quality.

"The quality of Indonesian nurses has been recognized, we have the third best nurses after the Philippines and Colombia," he said.

The government has started a free international-standardized certification program for professional nurses to encourage them to enter the global market, and selected participants would be sent abroad.

Independent applications for such programs would need Rp16 million to Rp20 million, he added.

The program is expected to reduce the number of unemployed nurses in the country that has continued to increase.

Data from BNP2TKI showed that each year, 43,150 nurses graduate from 863 colleges, while job opportunities in the domestic market range between 14,000 and 15,000 nurses.

This has led to some 28,000 nurses remaining unemployed.

"The government has encouraged the increase placement of formal migrant workers, following the moratorium for informal workers going to the Middle East," Nusron said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika