The 205 Indonesian caregivers who arrived in Japan this month have contracted with 98 institutions, including hospitals and nursing facilities in 34 prefectures, and plan to begin work in January or February after undergoing six months of language training.

The first batch of Indonesian recruits, here to work under a bilateral economic partnership agreement, consists of 104 nurses and 101 caregivers, most of them in their 20s, with women accounting for more than 60 percent.

Under the accord, which took effect July 1, Japan is expected to accept 600 caregivers and 400 nurses from Indonesia over the next two years.