Indonesia and Albania Expand Migrant Worker Market Through SMK Go Global Programme

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) has established cooperation with the Government of Albania to expand the market for Indonesian labour, particularly through the SMK Go Global programme.

This strengthened collaboration was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) concerning the placement and protection of migrant workers between Indonesian Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers Mukhtarudin and Albanian Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj in Jakarta on Thursday.

“Of course, in the near future, it is hoped that there will already be placements of migrant workers, particularly in the context of President Prabowo Subianto’s directive on SMK Go Global. One of the placement destinations will be Albania,” said Mukhtarudin.

He stated that migrant workers placed in Albania would be skilled workers in formal, non-domestic sectors.

For this reason, his ministry is committed to continuously improving the quality of Indonesian labour, from low-skilled workers to medium-high skilled workers.

In addition to increasing new worker placements, Mukhtarudin said the memorandum also strengthens synergy between the two countries in providing protection for Indonesian migrant workers.

The cooperation aligns with KP2MI’s commitment to continuously strengthen protection for Indonesian migrant workers before, during, and after placement.

“Although not many Indonesian migrant workers currently work in Albania, today’s MoU reflects both countries’ seriousness in ensuring better and more coordinated management of Indonesian migrant workers working in the Republic of Albania,” added Mukhtarudin.

The signing of the MoU follows up on President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Albania in July 2024, when he was still serving as Indonesia’s Minister of Defence and president-elect following the 2024 general election.

During that visit, he met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Bajram Begaj.

Meanwhile, SMK Go Global is a government programme that bridges vocational graduates to work abroad officially, safely, and with full protection.

The programme provides skills training, global certification, and foreign language courses.

Through the programme, KP2MI is targeting the placement of 40,000 Indonesian migrant worker candidates (CPMI) to work abroad this year.