Central Java Governor Urges Returning Migrants Not to Bring Relatives Back to Jakarta
The Governor of Central Java made a public appeal to returning migrants not to bring relatives back to Jakarta unless they have secured employment prospects. Speaking at the launch of the free 2026 Lebaran exodus programme at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta on Monday, he emphasised that such measures are necessary to prevent exacerbating population density in major cities like Jakarta.
The Central Java provincial government has established comprehensive job training programmes for residents who choose to remain and work in their home regions. These initiatives include vocational training centres (Balai Latihan Kerja), vocational courses, and workforce development programmes coordinated by provincial and district authorities.
The governor stressed that Central Java is prepared to provide employment opportunities locally, stating that keeping workers in the region would stimulate local economic circulation through movement of people, goods, and money.
As a central location on Java’s main migration corridor, Central Java serves as a crucial transit point for migrants travelling between western and eastern Java. The provincial government has therefore invested in supporting infrastructure, including hotels, rest areas, and small and medium enterprise (UMKM) centres at strategic locations along migration routes.
The governor expressed hope that passing migrants would utilise these facilities to rest and shop for local UMKM products, thereby supporting regional economic development. He also encouraged migrants to maintain good health during their journeys and send greetings to their families in their home villages.
The Central Java provincial government facilitated the departure of more than 16,000 migrants through the free 2026 Lebaran exodus programme from the collection point at TMII in East Jakarta. Approximately 325 buses were deployed to transport nearly 16,870 residents heading back to Central Java.