Indonesia Shifts Focus to Quality in Migrant Worker Placement

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Migrant Worker Protection Mukhtarudin has emphasized that Indonesia’s future policy will prioritize the quality of overseas worker placements rather than simply increasing numbers. His remarks came after attending President Prabowo Subianto’s presentation of the 2027 state budget bill at the Nusantara Building in Central Jakarta, on Friday, August 14, 2026.

“Going forward, we are not only pursuing higher placement figures but also better quality placements,” Minister Mukhtarudin said, as quoted by Antara.

The ministry aims to expand opportunities in formal sectors, strengthen skills training, and ensure workers hold competency certifications. This approach is expected to secure better working conditions, higher incomes, and stronger remittance flows.

Data shows nearly 600,000 placement services were recorded between 2024 and 2025, while the number of Indonesians working abroad rose from 3.9 million to 4.06 million. Remittances also grew significantly, from IDR 253 trillion (USD 14.19 billion) in 2024 to IDR 288 trillion (USD 16.15 billion USD) in 2025, a 14 percent increase.

“This proves that the role of Indonesian migrant workers continues to grow,” he noted.

Beyond economic contributions, the ministry is reinforcing protection measures at every stage before departure, during employment overseas, and upon return. This includes stricter employer verification, contract and wage guarantees, enhanced training, and stronger complaint-handling mechanisms in coordination with the Foreign Ministry and Indonesian missions abroad.

Digital services and education for workers and families are also being expanded, alongside efforts to prevent illegal placements and human trafficking.

He underlined that protection remains central to the ministry’s mission. “Our principle is clear. Based on the mandate of Law Number 18/2017, the protection of Indonesian migrant workers is carried out before, during, and after placement. Therefore, placement and protection must go hand in hand,” he said.

Minister Mukhtarudin stressed that the ultimate goal is not just more workers abroad, but more legal, professional, and protected workers who can improve their families’ welfare while contributing to national development. He also highlighted the concept of brain circulation, the reciprocal movement of skilled labor, as a way to enhance Indonesia’s human capital competitiveness.

By shifting the narrative from numbers to quality, Indonesia’s migrant worker policy is being reframed as part of a broader strategy: strengthening labor protection, boosting remittances, and positioning Indonesian workers as globally competitive professionals. ***