KP2MI-IOM Prepare Renewal of Cooperation on Migrant Worker Protection

KP2MI-IOM Prepare Renewal of Cooperation on Migrant Worker Protection

RRI.CO.Jakarta – The Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are preparing to renew their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which has been in place since 2021. Deputy Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Christina Aryani said the renewal is necessary to align the cooperation with the institutional transformation of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) into the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI).

“The cooperation between IOM and the Indonesian government has been progressing well. Therefore, we consider it important to continue and further enhance this partnership through the renewal of the MoU,” Christina said after meeting with IOM Indonesia Chief of Mission Jeffrey Labovitz at the KP2MI Office in Jakarta on Monday, 10 August 2026.

According to Christina, the renewed cooperation is expected to serve as a foundation for strengthening collaboration in the protection and empowerment of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI). She explained that the previous cooperation between IOM and BP2MI began in November 2021 and will expire in November 2026.

One of the existing areas of cooperation is the empowerment of returned migrant workers and their families, including through the Desa Migran Emas (Demimas) program.

“Empowerment is an important part of the migrant worker protection ecosystem. Protection should not only be provided while migrant workers are in destination countries, but also strengthened after they return to Indonesia,” she said.

Christina noted that the experience and resources brought back by returned migrant workers can become valuable assets in building more independent and sustainable livelihoods, making the further development of empowerment programs essential.

She added that continued collaboration with IOM is important to strengthen various KP2MI programs, particularly those related to the empowerment of returned migrant workers and their families.

“The renewal of the MoU is expected not only to serve as an administrative adjustment due to institutional changes, but also as an opportunity to expand the scope of cooperation in line with current needs for the protection of Indonesian migrant workers,” she said.

The renewed partnership is expected to maintain existing successful programs while opening opportunities for new forms of cooperation that support the protection and empowerment agenda for Indonesian migrant workers. IOM is an international organization focusing on migration issues and is part of the United Nations (UN) system.