The first year of leadership in a government agency is always a\ncritical period for determining future policy direction. Amidst the\ndynamic and challenging global labour movement, reforming the labour\nmigration ecosystem is clearly not an instant task. The steps taken must\nbe measured, mature, and long-term oriented.<\/p>\n
Entering the first year of Minister Mukhtarudin\u2019s leadership at the\nMinistry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrabant Workers (P2MI), this\ncommitment has been realised through the formulation and implementation\nof the Grand Design for the Transformation of the Governance of\nIndonesian Migrant Worker Protection. This document serves as a\ncomprehensive roadmap that integrates all aspects of protection, from\npreparation in the home village and assistance during service in the\ndestination country, to post-service programmes upon returning to the\nhomeland.<\/p>\n
Reconstructing the Paradigm<\/strong><\/p>\n As someone who has closely observed the policy-making process within\nthe ministry, the fundamental first improvement made by Minister\nMukhtarudin is the perspective towards migrant workers themselves. For a\nlong time, the narrative regarding our overseas workers has been\novershadowed by the issue of \u2018brain drain\u2019, as if Indonesia is\ncontinuously losing its best human resources. Under Minister\nMukhtarudin\u2019s leadership, the P2MI Ministry aims to shift this viewpoint\ntowards \u2018brain circulation\u2019.<\/p>\n We should no longer view migrant workers merely as remitters of\nforeign exchange or job seekers due to domestic employment limitations.\nThey are professionals and national representatives competing on a\nglobal level. Once their period of service is complete and they return\nhome, they bring capital far more valuable than mere money:\ninternational experience, mastery of the latest industrial technologies,\na global work ethic, and cross-border networks that are essential to\nsupporting the national economy.<\/p>\n To ensure this idea of brain circulation does not remain merely on\npaper, the P2MI Ministry is also paying great attention to improvements\nat the upstream level, namely the workers\u2019 home regions. The prevention\nof non-procedural placement, job fraud, and human trafficking practices\nmust be addressed directly at the grassroots level.<\/p>\n Through the National Safe Migrant Movement, the socialisation of\nlegal and transparent placement routes continues to be intensified. At\nthe local level, the government has established 756 \u2018Golden Migrant\nVillages\u2019 (Educative, Advanced, Safe, and Prosperous Migrant Villages).\nThese villages serve as the frontline where prospective workers receive\nhonest information, manage initial administration without the loopholes\nof illegal intermediaries, and ensure that the families left behind\nreceive assistance.<\/p>\n Furthermore, work in these villages is strengthened by 37 Migrant\nCentres located in various universities across Indonesia, acting as hubs\nthat connect official and procedural information, training, competency\ncertification, and skilled migrant workers with overseas labour markets.\nThrough this breakthrough, the government intends to ensure that every\nuniversity alumnus receives services and access to official, equitable,\nand openly accessible overseas job opportunities.<\/p>\n Sharpening Worker Competency<\/strong><\/p>\n On the other hand, competition in the international labour market\ndemands real skill enhancement. Skills and competency certifications are\nthe primary assets for migrant workers to compete with dignity and\nobtain decent labour rights. To meet this need, the P2MI Ministry is\nrunning the \u2018SMK Go Global\u2019 programme, targeting the production of\n500,000 skilled migrant workers from vocational high school graduates\nand the general public by 2029.<\/p>\n Placement focus has shifted towards specialised skill sectors\n(skilled labour) that offer better welfare and stronger legal\nprotection, such as the healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and\nconstruction sectors. Through schemes such as \u2018Asta Mandala SMK Go\nGlobal\u2019, these vocational graduates are not only equipped with certified\ntechnical skills but also foreign language training and the\nstrengthening of an international work mentality. This serves as a clear\nsignal that Indonesia is consistently shifting from the placement of\nunskilled labour towards professional labour.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in destination countries, our nation\u2019s presence is being\nclarified through more responsive labour diplomacy. Referring to P2MI\nMinisterial Regulation Number 1 of 2026, the working structure of Labour\nAttach\u00e9s (Atnaker) is now brought directly under the command of the P2MI\nMinistry. This restructuring is vital so that Labour Attach\u00e9s on the\nground can act more agilely and bravely in safeguarding the rights and\nsafety of our workers.<\/p>\n Under this new system, Labour Attach\u00e9s perform four main tasks:\nresponding quickly to labour disputes and wage issues, assisting in the\nhumane repatriation of problematic migrant workers, tightening the\nsupervision of the track records of local agencies in destination\ncountries, and actively mapping new job opportunities in safe formal\nsectors. The results of this change in working style are already being\nfelt, with 3,525 legal and labour-related cases successfully resolved\nduring this first year.<\/p>\n Achievements as a Guide<\/strong><\/p>\n These internal ministerial improvements have had a direct impact on\nthe smooth flow of official placements. Throughout the first year of\nMinister Mukhtarudin\u2019s leadership, it is recorded that 352,131 migrant\nworkers departed through legal and integrated routes. The placement\ngraphs also show a promising upward trend, from 96,061 workers during\nthe period of September to December 2025, leaping to 256,070 workers\nduring the period of January to September 2026.<\/p>\n This achievement in numbers goes hand-in-hand with regulatory\nimprovements, where the ministry has issued 26 new P2MI Ministerial\nRegulations to plug the regulatory gaps that have previously confused\nofficers in the field.<\/p>\n KemenP2MI also recognises that labour migration issues cannot be\nhandled alone. Therefore, under Minister Mukhtarting\u2019s command,\ncross-sectoral synergy continues to be built through the signing of 106\nMoUs and 174 Cooperation Agreements (PKS) involving other\nministries.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-dignified-path-for-our-migrant-workers-1789984984",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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