KP2MI and Bappenas discuss strategy to enhance migrant worker skills
JAKARTA (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Migrant Workers Protection Minister Mukhtarudin and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Head Rachmat Pambudy discussed strategies to enhance migrant workers’ skills in a Jakarta meeting on Tuesday (26 May).
“Foreign demand is high but requires specific competencies, both in skills and language proficiency,” Mukhtarudin stated.
He said, according to data from the Indonesian Migrant Workers Computerised Protection System (Siskop2MI) as of 25 May 2026, there were over 314,000 job opportunities in 10 main destination countries.
However, only about 24% of job opportunities have been filled or applied for, meaning a 76% gap remains unfilled – a challenge and a significant opportunity.
He noted that the supply of graduates from vocational high schools (SMK) and universities has not fully aligned with global labour market demands.
To bridge this skills gap, the Ministry for Migrant Workers Protection is pushing for cross-sectoral collaboration with 12 ministries and agencies offering vocational training facilities, including Bappenas.
The collaboration aims to enhance the competencies of prospective migrant workers to fill formal job opportunities in the global market.
Meanwhile, Rachmat Pambudy praised the ministry’s comprehensive plans and roadmap.
He said the programmes are comprehensive, particularly in improving the quality and capacity of prospective migrant workers.
“What Minister Mukhtarudin presented aligns with the preamble of the 1945 Constitution. We must remember that every Indonesian citizen abroad is a diplomat of Indonesia,” Rachmat said.
He added that the quality of protection and skills training for migrant workers is crucial as it reflects Indonesia’s human resource quality on the global stage.
“Therefore, migrant workers must not only be protected but also present and possess the best qualities of Indonesians,” he said.
To support the ministry’s strategic programmes, such as the Migrant Center, vocational integration, and Quick Win SMK Global, Rachmat stated Bappenas is ready to strengthen support in national planning and budgeting.
He said Bappenas is committed to supporting the development of the migrant worker ecosystem to ensure benefits reach the public directly.
“From Bappenas, in the interest of better cooperation, we are committed to assisting. Our role is to fully support ministries and agencies,” Rachmat said.
“We believe that good planning, when executed well, will benefit the entire population,” he added.