Government Promotes Safe PMI Placement to Meet Global Market Needs

RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya - The Indonesian government is encouraging the safe, legal, and protected placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers, known as PMI, overseas. The policy is part of a national strategy to reduce unemployment while improving public welfare.

Deputy for Coordination of Community Empowerment in Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Certain Areas, Abdul Haris, said the placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers must be aligned with the needs of overseas labor markets. He made the statement during a training program for prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers at the Industrial Training Center in Surabaya on Thursday, 27 August, 2026.

According to him, the government is implementing the SMK Go Global program to improve the skills of prospective migrant workers based on labor market needs through a demand-driven approach. “The placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers overseas must be carried out through proper procedures, safely, and with adequate protection,” he said.

The first phase of the SMK Go Global program attracted 14,523 applicants from various regions. After undergoing administrative screening, written tests, and interviews, 3,340 participants were selected to proceed to the training stage.

Abdul Haris explained that participants with basic skills and competencies would receive upskilling training based on overseas labor market demand. The training is being conducted in 167 classes across 20 regional offices of the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Service Agency, or BP3MI.

In East Java, the first phase of the SMK Go Global training is being held at the Surabaya Industrial Training Center and Malang Health Polytechnic. At the Surabaya Industrial Training Center, 100 participants are receiving production operator training to meet job orders from Taiwan and Malaysia.

Abdul Haris encouraged participants to make the most of the training opportunity by improving their skills and gaining work experience overseas. He also urged prospective migrant workers to continuously develop their abilities to meet labor market demands and access jobs with higher salary standards.

“We hope this program will help improve the welfare of the community, particularly the families of Indonesian Migrant Workers,” Abdul Haris said. In the next phase, BP3MI East Java is also preparing partnerships with several universities and vocational education institutions to support the implementation of the SMK Go Global program.