KP2MI Launches National Safe Migrant Movement to Prevent Illegal Departures
The inauguration of the National Safe Migrant Movement is a step intended to be more than just an institutional agenda, but a tangible benefit felt by the community we serve, stated officials during the launch in Jakarta on Monday (18/05/2026).
Between January and April 2026, the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) successfully prevented the illegal departure of 1,353 prospective migrant workers. Additionally, the ministry removed 4,213 dangerous digital contents related to illegal placement and handled 1,173 complaints from migrant workers in various countries.
This situation underscores that the state must be present not only through policies and regulations on paper, but also directly within the lives of the people. Therefore, today we are collectively launching the National Safe Migrant Movement, a joint movement to strengthen protections for Indonesian migrant workers, the official stated.
In its implementation, KP2MI is promoting five main strategies, including massive information dissemination, risk mitigation and early detection, cross-sector collaboration, accelerated grassroots education, and the mobilisation of former migrant workers as agents of change.
Mukhtarudin explained that President Prabowo Subianto had previously directed the ministry to increase the quality of migrant worker protection from the pre-departure stage, through their employment period, until their return to Indonesia. Furthermore, the government has been tasked with optimising the placement of highly skilled and high-quality Indonesian migrant workers.
Mukhtarudin emphasised that migrant workers are not merely figures in national statistical reports. He noted that they are economic warriors for their families, willing to leave their hometowns in pursuit of a more prosperous life.
‘Migrant workers are part of a nation whose safety and dignity must be guarded. Therefore, all parties share the responsibility to ensure that their protection is maximised,’ he explained.
He also highlighted that remittances from migrant workers in 2025 reached IDR 288 trillion, according to Bank Indonesia data. These funds serve as an economic driver, impacting everything from individual families to rural villages across various regions.
‘Based on Bank Indonesia’s economic and financial statistics, remittances generated by Indonesian migrant workers in 2025 reached 288 trillion rupiah. Through their efforts, the wheels of the economy turn, villages progress, and this nation gains strength,’ he said.
He added that the impact of remittances becomes even greater when managed productively and sustainably. Remittances do not only assist family needs but also create business opportunities and foster new success stories.
Through the National Safe Migrant Movement, Mukhtarudin invited all elements of the nation—including ministries, local governments, law enforcement, media, and village communities—to participate actively in protecting migrant workers.
‘Let us move together to voice our unity and provide real protection for all Indonesian migrant workers. Let this movement live within families, grow in villages, and permeate all layers of society,’ he concluded.