Two Indonesian enterprises in Taipei — a state-owned bank and an import company — said Thursday that they are jointly planning a program to offer free baking lessons for Indonesian migrant workers so that they could acquire entrepreneurship skills in preparation for their return home.
The Taipei branch of the state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and the Indonesian import company Indosuara said the first baking class, designed for 40 people, will open March 6 in Taipei, facilitated by a Taiwanese baking instructor and several translators.
The goal is to help the workers acquire baking skills, which could be used to start their own businesses when they return to Indonesia, Norman Lubis, public relations manager at BRI Taipei Branch, told CNA.
“Come in as a migrant, go home as an entrepreneur,” Norman said.
In addition, the Taiwanese employers of the workers are being invited to join the classes, to help build friendships outside of work, Indosuara’s Mira Luxita Sari said.
The Taiwanese employers will also be introduced to Indonesian baking products, such as coconut sugar, she said.
BRI, which is funding the classes, said the program will provide an opportunity to inform workers and employers about the services offered at its first Taipei branch that opened last November.
“We want to introduce our bank, as we are new (in Taiwan),” Norman said.
The branch in downtown Taipei is currently focused on encouraging Indonesian migrant workers to open savings accounts there and attracting local enterprises that do business with Indonesia, he said.
BRI and Indosuara will evaluate the feedback from the 40 participants – 20 workers and 20 employers – in the first baking class before deciding on the other sessions, Norman said.
As of the end of November 2021, Taiwan’s Indonesian community included 238,787 migrant workers, according to Ministry of Labor statistics.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel
