In a bid to address the acute manpower shortages plaguing its healthcare sector, Hong Kong is looking toward Indonesia for skilled nursing professionals. Yul Edison, Indonesia’s Consul General in Hong Kong, emphasized the potential for collaboration beyond the country’s well-known role as a provider of domestic helpers.
In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Edison highlighted Indonesia’s capability to supply nurses to the city, which has been grappling with a significant deficiency in healthcare staff. Current projections indicate that Hong Kong will face a shortfall of 8,700 nurses by 2030, worsening to 6,000 by 2040.
“Hong Kong needs nurses, and we have many nurses in Indonesia,” said Edison, noting that about 150,000 Indonesians currently work in Hong Kong, with 85% in domestic roles.
Recently, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council passed a law facilitating the employment of non-locally trained nurses, allowing them to practice without the traditional licensing exam, provided they have relevant full-time experience. This measure aims to attract more healthcare professionals amid growing concerns from legislators regarding the quality and language capabilities of incoming staff.
Edison pointed to Indonesia’s extensive training infrastructure, highlighting 38 polytechnic schools dedicated to health education. He referenced a successful nurse placement agreement with Germany, which has seen a tripling of Indonesian nurses sent abroad—from 180 in 2022 to 600 in 2023—under a program that includes language and professional training.
Discussions have already taken place with Hong Kong’s Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun, and Hospital Authority CEO, Tony Ko, about establishing a similar program in the city. “They are scrutinising all the possibilities,” he said, though he could not disclose further details on the negotiations.
In addition to addressing healthcare staffing needs, Edison is keen to promote Hong Kong as an educational destination for Indonesian students. Currently, around 700 Indonesian students are enrolled in local universities, but Edison aims to increase that number significantly. He emphasized the importance of investing in education to develop human resources necessary for Indonesia’s aspirations of becoming a developed nation by 2045.
As part of these efforts, Edison has visited several top universities in Hong Kong to explore opportunities for student exchanges and collaborative research. A delegation from Hong Kong Polytechnic University is set to visit schools in Jakarta this September, with plans to establish a memorandum of understanding aimed at facilitating student placements.
Edison acknowledged that many Indonesians lack awareness of Hong Kong’s educational landscape and work environment, particularly regarding the prevalence of English. However, he expressed optimism that ongoing outreach by the Hong Kong government would enhance perceptions and increase interest among Indonesian talent.
“They are really active to reach out to our community,” he said. “So I’m optimistic that more talent from Indonesia will, at least gradually, come to Hong Kong.”