Poster

[1Z109] Temporary Migrant to Permanent Resident: The Upskilling Journey of Indonesians in Japan.

*SARI SUZUKI¹ (1. Nagoya University)

Keywords:Indonesia, Migration, Upskilling

Since 1993, many Indonesians have come to Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), which aims to transfer skills and knowledge back to their home countries. The drive for Indonesians to work abroad is influenced by a large domestic workforce and limited job opportunities, aligning with Japan's need for foreign workers due to its aging population. Rather than returning home, many Indonesian temporary migrants are pursuing permanent residency in Japan through upskilling. Despite the importance of this issue, research on Indonesian migrants transitioning from temporary to permanent residency in Japan is limited. This study aims to address this gap by examining the upskilling journeys of Indonesian migrants seeking permanent residency with the following research questions: What motivates Indonesian migrants in Japan to seek permanent residency? How do Indonesian migrants' experiences with upskilling influence their transition to permanent residency? What strategies do Indonesian migrants use to navigate the bureaucratic challenges of the Japanese immigration system?

This study adopts a phenomenological approach, utilizing purposive sampling from the 4 most common visa categories for Indonesians that are not status-based (ex- Technical Intern Trainees (TITP), Engineers/Specialists in Humanities/International Services (ESI), International Students (IS), and EPA nurses and caregivers (Designated Activities)). Qualitative analysis is conducted through one-hour in-depth interviews using a semi-structured format. Thematic analysis is applied to focus on the participants' own words.

The findings indicate that Indonesians are motivated to obtain permanent residency in Japan, supporting the New Economics and New Economics of Labor Migration theories. For those in the manufacturing and caregiving sectors, wages are key motivators. Achieving permanent residency takes around 20 years for ex-TITP, though upskilling opportunities have expanded with the rise of the internet. Indonesian migrants have shown extensive preparation in managing documentation and strategizing over time, utilizing informal community guidelines to achieve permanent residency.