KP2MI reveals visa constraints hindering migrant worker placement to Turkey

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI), Mukhtarudin, has revealed that the potential placement of 30,000 migrant workers to Turkey has not been fully realised due to visa processing constraints.

“Based on the job orders we have verified, there are approximately 30,000 vacancies that we could fill. However, the obstacle is the visa, because the capacity of the Turkish Embassy in Indonesia is only able to process 12,000 to 15,000 per year,” Minister Mukhtarudin stated during a Working Meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliament Building, Jakarta, on Thursday.

Mukhtarudin explained that the placement of migrant workers depends not only on the readiness of the workforce but also on the readiness of the destination country, including the capacity for administrative services and visa processing.

KP2MI, he continued, has requested an increase in visa issuance. However, he noted that human resources at the Turkish Embassy remain limited.

“We have submitted requests several times, and we have also communicated in writing to the Turkish side to increase personnel. The difficulty lies in the service from their side. That is the primary issue regarding Turkey,” he said.

Furthermore, Mukhtarudin stated that several other destination countries also have complex visa processes, which affects the realisation of Indonesian migrant worker placements.

“There are also other countries where the visa process is not as easy as the ones we manage. Therefore, when we discuss migrant worker placement, it is not just about being competent, but also about how the destination countries handle administrative processes and so on,” he added.

KP2MI aims to place 350,000 Indonesian migrant workers throughout 2026. As of September 2026, the realised placement has reached 260,000 people, leaving approximately 90,000 workers potential for placement by the end of the year.

Nevertheless, Mukhtarudin emphasised that the ministry’s duty is not limited to placement, but also encompasses efforts to ensure their protection.

“While the nomenclature of this Ministry is the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection, our core focus must be more on protection than on placement,” he concluded.