Indonesia, Switzerland ink labour exchange agreement

Director of the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower’s Bureau of Manpower Placement Development and Employment Expansion, Suhartono, (right) and International Affairs Director of Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), State of Secretariat for Migration (SEM) Ambassador Vincenzo Mascioli sign the Agreement on the Exchange of Young Professional in Bundeshaus West, Bern, Switzerland on November 30. (Photo: ANTARA)

Jakarta, (VNA) - Indonesia and Switzerland have signed an agreement on the exchange of young professionals within the framework of their bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IE-CEPA).

In a statement on December 4, Suhartono, Director of the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower’s Bureau of Manpower Placement Development and Employment Expansion, expressed his hope that this agreement would bring benefits for both countries in enhancing work performance, especially the young professional workforce.

Under the agreement, the exchange of young workforce encompasses all types of professions and is based on relevant laws and regulations. The approved quota for the agreement is 50 participants per year and can be increased to 100.

To benefit from the agreement, young professionals in the age bracket of 18 to 35 years must at least undergo on-job training not less than two years and possess a relevant certificate that states completion of their study.

Eligible workers are granted a work permit for a period of 12 months and can be extended for another six months in the form of an entry permit and a residence permit.

According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Investment, Switzerland ranks in the top 10 for foreign direct investment in Indonesia in the first six months of this year with 199 projects and a total value of 469.5 million USD. Currently, 150 Swiss companies in Indonesia employ 50,000 local workers./.