Migrant Worker Remittances Set to Rise 14 Per Cent in 2025

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Minister of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI), Mukhtarudin, stated that remittances from Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in 2025 are projected to increase by 14 per cent compared to the 2024 data.

“In 2024, from the 253,000 placements (of PMI) carried out, including some from previous years, the remittances received by our country, based on data from Bank Indonesia, amounted to Rp253 trillion. And in 2025, there will be a 14 per cent increase. So, approximately Rp288 trillion in remittances will flow into Indonesia in 2025,” said Mukhtarudin in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He made the statement after a coordination meeting with the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, which discussed plans for sending PMI abroad under the SMK Go Global programme.

According to him, PMI remittances have significant benefits in driving the community’s economy.

Given the significant role of PMI in supporting national economic growth, the government continues to strive to improve protection for migrant workers. One of the efforts is to improve the quality of PMI.

“In the future, we must also improve their protection. One way is to improve the quality of migrant workers that we send abroad, with a minimum (high school/vocational school) education. So, it is hoped that with better education and further training through vocational programmes with strict competency tests from the host country, this will make it easier for us to provide protection,” said Mukhtarudin.

Starting in April 2026, the government will send skilled Indonesian migrant workers to Japan, South Korea, Europe, America, and various other countries, with job opportunities including welders, hospitality staff, and healthcare workers.

The SMK Go Global programme is an initiative by the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment and the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection (KemenP2MI) to improve the quality of high school graduates in the country so that they can work abroad.