Govt Ensures SMK Go Global Program Focuses on Migrant Worker Placement

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has ensured that the SMK Go Global program is not merely focused on the number of training participants, but on preparing them to work abroad. The government aims for program graduates to acquire competencies that meet the needs of international employers.

Minister of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI), Mukhtarudin, said every participant must take the training seriously to develop technical skills, language proficiency, and properly recognized professional certifications.

He stressed that the success of the program should not be measured solely by the number of participants or the amount of funding absorbed. Instead, its main indicator is whether participants are capable of meeting employment standards in their destination countries.

“This is goal-oriented, not target-oriented. It is not simply about holding training sessions, taking photographs, or absorbing the budget. The participants must genuinely be trained, and the KPI is to ensure that they are truly ready to work,” Mukhtarudin said at the kick-off of the SMK Go Global program in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

According to him, the training process must be conducted objectively, including in the assessment and issuance of competency certifications. Participants who complete the training must genuinely possess skills that meet the standards of the jobs they will undertake.

Mukhtarudin also called on the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) to ensure that the certification process is carried out rigorously. The certifications issued must reflect the participants' actual competencies rather than merely fulfill administrative requirements.

“Do not let participants pass the training, only to fail when they are tested by employers because their competencies do not meet the required standards,” he conveyed.

In 2026, the SMK Go Global program is being implemented through 167 classes, involving around 3,340 participants across several BP3MI areas. Participants will receive training in technical skills and languages, as well as an understanding of workplace culture, before proceeding to the placement stage.

The government aims to develop the program into a model for preparing Indonesian workers based on the needs of international labor markets, ensuring that Indonesian migrant workers placed overseas are not only certified but also genuinely prepared to work professionally.