KP2MI and ULM Sign MoU to Support Quality Improvement of Migrant Workers

The Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) is supporting the quality improvement of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement (PKS) with Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) in Banjarmasin on Tuesday (23/6). “Higher education institutions like Lambung Mangkurat University have a dual strategic role,” said P2MI Minister Mukhtarudin during the event, according to a statement received from KP2MI on Tuesday. The first role, he said, is as a partner in preparing competent and certified human resources from the time they are in university. The second is as an educational front that fortifies students and the public from the traps of non-procedural migration through literacy on official channels, he said. In addition to ULM, this strategic momentum was also strengthened by the participation of eight other higher education institutions in the South Kalimantan region. Mukhtarudin stated that the main focus of the cooperation is to improve the overall quality of protection from before, during, and after employment, as well as to optimise the placement of skilled and professional Indonesian migrant workers. Amidst Indonesia’s large productive-age population, developed countries are currently facing an aging population phenomenon that triggers a massive labour deficit. Based on data from the Computerised System for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (SISKOP2MI) for the period January 2025 to 21 June 2026, the government has nationally facilitated 439,543 placement services. The five main destination countries are still dominated by Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Future opportunities are considered to remain wide open. Data from the Labour Market Information System (SIP2MI) as of 21 June 2026 recorded 311,073 available overseas job positions. However, the number filled has only reached 76,979 positions, or 24.75 percent. “This means there are still 234,094 job opportunities, or around 75.25 percent, that are vacant and waiting to be filled by competent Indonesian workers,” Mukhtarudin said. Meanwhile, Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) Rector Ahmad Alim Bachri expressed appreciation for the cooperation with KP2MI and the establishment of a Migrant Center on the ULM campus. The new facility officially stands as the first Migrant Center to become an integrated service centre in Kalimantan. Ahmad Alim Bachri affirmed that the presence of the Migrant Center is a crucial momentum that will have a broad impact on the orientation and human resource management policies within ULM going forward. “I, on behalf of the entire ULM academic community, express my gratitude and appreciation to the Minister for attending today to give a public lecture and inaugurate the Migrant Center established by Lambung Mangkurat University,” he said.