Banten and P2MI Ministry Synergise to Protect Migrant Workers
Banten Governor Andra Soni has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) Mukhtarudin to strengthen protection and competence for migrant workers from Banten.
The signing, which took place at the P2MI Ministry building on Thursday (18/6), represents a strategic effort to build an integrated migrant worker ecosystem. In addition to the Banten Provincial Government, the P2MI Ministry also established cooperation with PT Krakatau Steel (Persero) Tbk and the Alumni Association of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University (IKA Untirta).
Andra Soni, in a statement in Serang on Friday, said the cooperation is an important step to open wider job opportunities while ensuring prospective migrant workers receive adequate training before departing abroad.
“This MoU is an effort to improve community welfare and open opportunities for our citizens to develop and work abroad while still receiving protection from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia,” he said.
According to him, Banten has great potential as a source region for migrant workers, so this central government initiation programme must be seriously supported by the region. He expressed enthusiasm and readiness to implement the programme optimally.
Meanwhile, P2MI Minister Mukhtarudin explained that the collaboration involving the central government, regional government, universities, and the industrial sector is a form of synergy for protecting migrant workers from upstream to downstream. The prepared programme includes training, capacity building, and professional workforce placement.
“In accordance with President Prabowo’s directives, we are strengthening protection as well as capacity building for migrant workers to enter the global labour market, particularly as skilled workers in the formal sector,” he explained.
Strong support was also conveyed by the General Chair of the Central Board of IKA Untirta, Lamhot Sinaga, who affirmed the readiness of the academic community and Untirta alumni network to contribute their educational resources to foster the competence of prospective workers.
“The essence of this programme is to build a complete migrant worker ecosystem. We are ready to contribute so that Indonesian migrant workers depart with good competence and strong protection,” said Lamhot.
On the industrial side, President Director of PT Krakatau Steel Akbar Djohan committed to facilitating technical skills training. Through these facilities, he hopes Indonesian migrant workers can depart with high confidence and be able to compete professionally on the global stage.