KP2MI Partners with Universities to Boost Quality of Indonesian Migrant Workers
The Indonesian Ministry of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) is undertaking strategic collaborations to develop the quality of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) with universities in various regions. In addition to competencies, the Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), Mukhtarudin, stated that the cooperation also aims to enhance protection for PMI.
“The P2MI Ministry has just completed signing 11 MoUs and 6 cooperation agreements with strategic partners of KP2MI, all from educational institutions and universities. (This cooperation) is aimed at creating an ecosystem for migrant worker protection. In the context of preparing human resources, enhancing human resource capabilities, research, development, and other activities,” said Mukhtarudin during the signing of MoUs with several universities at the KP2MI office in Jakarta on Thursday (16/4/2026).
He explained that this cooperation also aims to prepare PMI readiness from upstream to downstream. According to him, this aligns with President Prabowo’s directive to improve the quality and protection of PMI.
Mukhtarudin explained that President Prabowo wants Indonesia to send PMI with medium to high capabilities. For this reason, they are partnering with universities to contribute to creating capable PMI.
“In line with Mr. President’s directive. Mr. President’s order that going forward we prepare improvements in quality protection. At the same time, we prepare skilled migrant worker resources. Because Mr. President requests that we send skilled workers, at minimum, middle, and high skill. Well, this is where universities and schools are important for that,” he clarified.
He stated that this cooperation also encourages PMI who have returned to Indonesia to contribute to society through knowledge transfer gained while working abroad.
“So, the educated people with skills that we place will provide a kind of brain circulation when they (PMI) finish working, have experience, skills, expertise, they can develop it in Indonesia,” he said.
He added that through this cooperation, several universities will have migrant centres. Currently, a total of more than 20 universities have partnered with KP2MI for this programme.
“Well, this is already almost more than 20. More than 20 universities that have MoUs with us to form migrant centres. Later, these universities will form migrant centres as an ecosystem from upstream to downstream owned by the universities,” he said.
“We as regulators and facilitators prepare that. We create the regulations, prepare the ecosystem, facilitate how to find overseas job opportunities, link and match with industry needs abroad. Well, this is the government’s task. Next, the process of producing and preparing them is in universities and schools through the migrant centre programme,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Rector of Sunan Gresik University, Abdul Muhith, welcomed the cooperation. According to him, the presence of migrant centres can encourage the creation of more skilled PMI.
“We as strategic partners are not just for sending off, but we have several schemes in the migrant centre. Including accompaniment, advocacy, empowerment, and how after they return from abroad,” he concluded.
It is known that the migrant centres will be filled with accompaniment, advocacy, empowerment, and so on. This coaching aims for PMI to have adequate abilities and be ready to work abroad.