Government targets opportunities to boost Indonesian migrant worker placements in Kuwait

Kuwait presents significant opportunities for the placement of Indonesian migrant workers, particularly in professional and service sectors. Deputy Minister of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI) Christina Aryani and Indonesian Ambassador to Kuwait Lena Maryana discussed efforts to enhance the placement of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in Kuwait. During Tuesday’s meeting in Jakarta, Deputy Minister Christina received the latest inputs and information on the current conditions of PMIs in Kuwait, who are employed in sectors including hospitality, oil and gas, manufacturing, healthcare, and spa therapy. The meeting also covered various job orders and the legal aspects of PMI placements in the country. ‘Kuwait presents significant opportunities for Indonesian migrant workers, particularly in professional and service sectors. This is a market that we need to continuously map and optimise,’ Christina stated in a written statement. Deputy Minister Christina stressed that the P2MI Ministry is strengthening protection for PMIs from upstream to downstream, including ensuring migrant workers receive social security through BPJS Ketenagakerjaan membership and health insurance in the destination country. ‘We emphasise the importance of social security for Indonesian migrant workers, including in Kuwait, to ensure they have adequate health and labour protection while working abroad,’ she said. The meeting also discussed potential intergovernmental and public-private partnerships for PMI placements in Kuwait. Meanwhile, Ambassador Lena Maryana highlighted the increasingly intense international labour competition in the country. She cited airport security sector opportunities, which were previously open to Indonesian workers, now largely filled by African labour due to cost-efficiency and faster recruitment. ‘Indonesian workers still hold a positive image in Kuwait for being friendly, dedicated, and conflict-averse. Indonesia must make improvements to avoid losing momentum in Kuwait and the wider Middle East labour market,’ Ambassador Lena said.