UNAIR NEWS – Indonesian nurses are not only known for their work in the country, but they have also been known to work in various countries including Kuwait. Kuwait, one of the richest countries in the Arabian gulf has long been a destination for Indonesian nurses.
Working in Kuwait is very promising. With the status of foreign nurses, Indonesian nurses have the opportunity to be staffs at the Kuwait’s Ministry of Health or Civil Servants with a monthly salary 10 times more than they can get in Indonesia.
After many years of living and working in Kuwait, surely these nurses return to Indonesia. What should be done to facilitate the migration (return migration) from these nurses? What career options are available to them? And what should be done by a nursing or government professional organization?
Various issues were discussed in a seminar entitled Career Choices and Opportunities for Indonesian Nurses Returnees held in the hall of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI), Kuwait, on Thursday, October 12. The seminar was held in collaboration with the Indonesian Kuwait National Nurses Association and the Indonesian Embassy Kuwait.
The main speaker of the seminar was Gantosari, on behalf of the Embassy in Kuwait, the labor attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Kuwait Alamsyah, and lecturer of the Faculty of Nursing Universitas Airlangga Ferry Efendi, S.Kep.Ns., MSc., Ph.D. who gave material on “Career Choices Among Indonesian Nurses Returnees: Policy Options in Managing Return Migration “.
On that occasion, to the Indonesian nurses in Kuwait, Ferry gave a picture of the activities they can do when they return to Indonesia.
According to Ferry, if we look at the migration cycle of nurses, Indonesia has been focusing mainly on pre-migration aspects (prior to placement) and during migration (during placement). Very few studies review about post-migration or after their work abroad and return to Indonesia.
“This is very unfortunate, because the main purpose of migration is to strengthen the individual and health system in Indonesia. Our nurses’ knowledge and skill should be optimized after the placement,” said Ferry.
Generally, nurses working abroad have several advantages, both in terms of language and skills. The need for nurse migration management is to maximize their skills to strengthen the national health system.
“Policies that can help the utilization of post-placement nurse skills are needed to minimize the brain waste. Mapping on skills of nurses and identifying with the needs of the labor market or health facilities in Indonesia is really necessary, “said alumnus of Ph.D program from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.
Ferry added, the existence of a database system to match nurses who have high skills with the needs of labor market will greatly help distribute the skills of Indonesian nurses to areas in needs. Such system can also be done by embracing the private sector or investors interested in developing the nursing or health industry in Indonesia.
The seminar, attended by around 60 Indonesian nurses in Kuwait, ended with a discussion session covering various post-placement issues in Kuwait. The labor attaché at the Embassy of Kuwait also has a similar commitment to facilitate this issue by involving coordination and inviting investors to enter Indonesia.
“WHO’s global code for recruitment of international health personnel adopted by Indonesia should be implemented in the placement and management of this return migration,” Ferry added. (*)
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
