Bappenas Ready to Support Vocational Grand Design and Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection
The meeting discussed integrated measures to strengthen the quality of Indonesian Migrant Worker protection from upstream to downstream, alongside strategies to enhance competencies to fill formal job opportunities in the global market.
Mukhtarudin revealed that, according to data from the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Computerised System (Siskop2MI) as of 25 May 2026, there were over 314,000 job opportunities spread across 10 major destination countries in various sectors, including healthcare. However, only around 24% of these opportunities have been filled or applied for.
“This means a 76% gap remains unfilled—a challenge and a significant opportunity. Demand from abroad is high but requires specific competencies in both skills and language proficiency. Meanwhile, the supply from our vocational high schools (SMK) and universities has not fully aligned with global labour market needs,” Mukhtarudin stated on Tuesday (26/5/2026).
To bridge this skills gap, the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI) is collaborating with 12 ministries and agencies offering vocational facilities and training. One implementation is the establishment of Migrant Centers in higher education institutions. Twelve universities have already inaugurated these service centers, with 15 others in preparation.
At the secondary education level, including vocational high schools (SMK) and general high schools (SMA), collaboration involves integrating migration-related content, language proficiency, and global skills into curricular and extracurricular activities without altering the core curriculum.
The Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection is also partnering with the Ministry of Social Affairs through the People’s School programme to create special pathways for disadvantaged communities, ensuring they gain adequate vocational training to access the global job market.
Law Enforcement and Prevention of Irregular Migrant Workers
Beyond capacity building, the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection is focusing on enhancing upstream-downstream protection and eradicating human trafficking (TPPO).
During the meeting, Mukhtarudin highlighted border situations where migrant workers are deported from Malaysia almost weekly due to undocumented status or criminal cases.
To ensure government presence, authorities are optimising 23 BP3MI/Balai facilities and shelter spaces for deported workers in border areas such as Nunukan, Batam, and Pontianak for repatriation, guidance, and support processes.
Economic Empowerment and Quick Win SMK Global Programme
Under the empowerment pillar, Mukhtarudin outlined the Golden Migrant Village programme, now covering approximately 669 villages across Indonesia. This initiative focuses on financial literacy education for workers and their families to convert remittance funds into productive investments.
For former migrant workers, Mukhtarudin said the government is collaborating with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) and the Ministry of Trade to provide sustainable entrepreneurship training.
During the meeting, Mukhtarudin also presented the Quick Win SMK Global programme, directly instructed by the President. The ‘Train, Competent, and Place’ initiative targets vocational high school graduates and the general public to receive upskilling based on international labour market needs.
“The initial target for 2026 is 80,000 participants, with execution adjusted according to government budget readiness,” Mukhtarudin stated.
Mukhtarudin hopes Bappenas will provide budgetary and strategic planning support. This synergy aims to transform the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection into a leading sector that not only protects workers but also effectively addresses national unemployment in an integrated manner.
Bappenas Appreciates Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection’s Grand Design
At the meeting, Rachmat praised the grand design and roadmap presented by the Minister of Migrant Worker Protection. He stated that the ministry’s programmes are comprehensive, well-structured, and aligned with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives, particularly in enhancing the quality and capacity of Indonesian Migrant Candidates (CPMI).
He noted the ministry’s focus on upstream-downstream protection—from pre-departure, during employment, to post-placement—aligns with the president’s commitments.
Rachmat added that the essence of this protection aligns with the nation’s constitutional values. ‘What Mr. Mukhtarudin presented aligns with the 1945 Constitution’s preamble. We must remember that every Indonesian citizen abroad is an ambassador of Indonesia. While we have formal ambassadors, all our citizens overseas are national ambassadors,’ he said.
Rachmat stressed that the quality of protection and competency preparation for migrant workers is crucial, as their profile abroad directly reflects Indonesia’s human quality to the world.
‘Therefore, migrant workers must not only be protected, but their appearance and capabilities should reflect the best qualities of Indonesians,’ he added.
Bappenas Ready to Support Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection Programmes
At the event, Rachmat also stated Bappenas is ready to strengthen collaboration and support strategic programmes such as establishing Migrant Centers, vocational integration, and the Quick Win SMK Global initiative, both in planning and national budgeting.
Bappenas will fully support the ecosystem being built by the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection to ensure tangible impacts for the public.
’From Bappenas, in the spirit of better collaboration, we are committed to providing support. Our role is to fully support ministries and agencies. We believe that good planning, j