JAKARTA - Indonesia’s Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers is studying demand in Fiji for professional hospitality workers, with Deputy Minister Christina Aryani saying the Pacific country could open jobs for Indonesians as chefs, hotel managers and other skilled tourism workers.

In a press release issued in Jakarta by the ministry, Christina discussed the opportunity after a virtual meeting on Wednesday, April 15, with Indonesia’s Ambassador to Fiji, Dupito Dharma Simamora, who is also accredited to Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu.

“We see ample opportunities for professional placement in the hospitality sector. However, further mapping of actual needs in the field, including competency standards and wage rates, is needed,” Aryani said after the online meeting.

The ministry said Indonesia also wants to optimize cooperation already established through an Indonesia-Fiji tourism memorandum of understanding from 2022. Aryani said that partnership could be expanded through training, information exchange, and on-the-job training for vocational students in tourism and hospitality.

“We see opportunities to develop training and internship collaborations for vocational high school (SMK) and tourism polytechnic students, so they can gain international work experience before entering the global job market,” she said.

Aryani also flagged protections for Indonesian fishing vessel crews in the Pacific, noting that Fiji is a stopover point for international fishing boats.

“We encourage stronger cooperation, including the possibility of an MoU regarding the protection of Indonesian fishing vessel crews,” the deputy minister said, warning of continued worker vulnerability from non-transparent recruitment. She also added that the Fiji initiative could become an early model for wider Pacific cooperation.

Last year, Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry and Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry explored closer cooperation on responsible forestry and climate action during a November 14, 2025 meeting at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. 

Fiji said it wanted to learn from Indonesia’s experience with REDD+, the UN-backed framework for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The meeting was also attended by Conservation International.