Indonesia Eyes Fiji for Skilled Migrant Workers in Hospitality Sector

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection (P2MI) Christina Aryani is assessing opportunities to place Indonesian professionals in Fiji, particularly in tourism and hospitality.

The initiative follows discussions with Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji Dupito Dharma Simamora, as both sides review labor demand in the Pacific region.

Deputy Minister Christina highlighted strong demand for skilled workers such as chefs, hotel managers, and other hospitality professionals.

“We see that opportunities for placing professional workers in the hospitality sector are quite open," she said on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as quoted on the ministry's official website.

"However, further mapping is needed regarding actual needs in the field, including competency standards and wage levels offered,” she added.

Indonesia is also seeking to build on a 2023 tourism cooperation agreement with Fiji, expanding collaboration through training programs, information exchange, and on-the-job training schemes.

“We see opportunities to develop cooperation in training and internships for vocational school and tourism polytechnic students, so they can gain international work experience before entering the global job market,” she said.

Beyond job placement, she emphasized the need to strengthen protection for Indonesian migrant workers, particularly fishing crew members operating in Pacific waters, where Fiji serves as a key transit hub.

“We encourage stronger cooperation, including the possibility of an MoU on the protection of fishing crew members, considering there are still vulnerabilities due to non-transparent recruitment processes,” she concluded.

She expressed hope that cooperation with Fiji could serve as a model for broader engagement across other Pacific nations, combining expanded job access with stronger worker protections. ***