Indonesia is working on a new opportunity to send skilled migrant workers to the Netherlands, focusing on industries like maritime, fisheries, and healthcare. The Ministry for the Protection of Migrant Workers (P2MI) has begun discussions with two Dutch labor recruitment companies—TOS and Susie Care—to support this international partnership.
Deputy Minister of P2MI, Christina Aryani, confirmed the plan after meeting with both companies’ CEOs in Jakarta. She said the government is committed to expanding job placements in Europe for skilled Indonesian workers.
“We are interested in placing Indonesian migrant workers in the Netherlands,” Aryani stated during the meeting, according to an official release. She also noted that the government had held prior consultations with the Indonesian ambassador in The Hague, who supports this initiative.
The Netherlands is known for its strong maritime and health sectors, and Indonesia hopes to tap into this labor demand. Aryani said the plan includes sending workers in marine fisheries and healthcare—especially nurses and other trained medical staff. She added that this aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s goal of shifting Indonesia’s overseas employment from domestic labor to more professional and technical roles.
“We want to send more workers from the health and marine fisheries sectors to the Netherlands through TOS and Susie Care,” Aryani explained.
Beyond permanent jobs, Aryani is also exploring the potential to place seasonal workers in European countries where TOS and Susie Care operate. She welcomed the companies’ existing cooperation with institutions like Binawan University and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, which help train skilled workers in relevant fields.
Kees Wagenaar, CEO of both TOS and Susie Care, praised the Indonesian government for its support and emphasized the importance of quality and professionalism in the hiring process. “It has to be done properly and professionally — that’s very important to us,” he said. Wagenaar also confirmed that his company had already placed 10 Indonesian healthcare workers in the Netherlands, despite challenges in the recruitment process.
Even though TOS and Susie Care already have offices in Indonesia, Wagenaar said they are open to further partnerships with local recruitment agencies to reach more qualified candidates.
According to data from P2MI, only around 250 Indonesian recruitment firms are currently active in the marine sector. TOS and Susie Care have expressed ongoing interest in helping to grow this niche and provide better overseas employment opportunities for Indonesians.
The government’s focus on professional labor migration reflects a long-term strategy to increase the value and protection of Indonesia’s overseas workers. With the Netherlands showing strong demand in maritime and healthcare fields, this initiative could create new pathways for thousands of skilled Indonesians seeking better-paying, safer jobs abroad.