Minister Mukhtarudin Calls for Cross-Sector Collaboration to Protect Indonesian Migrant Workers
This was stated by Mukhtarudin whilst attending and delivering remarks at the Signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) and Collaboration Kick-off between the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Migrant Workers’ Protection (P2MI), the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA), and the Australian government through the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Justice Phase (AIPJ) 3. The event was attended by Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas, Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Gita Kamath, Deputy Minister of Law Eddy O.S. Hiariej, Deputy Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan, along with officials from each ministry. Minister Mukhtarudin was accompanied by Deputy Minister Christina Aryani.
“This great nation cannot be managed by a single ministry alone. Cross-ministerial collaboration is required to optimise the implementation of government programmes, particularly the President’s Asta Cita,” said Mukhtarudin in a written statement on Thursday (23/7/2026).
According to him, for the Ministry of P2MI, the cooperation represents a strategic step in strengthening the protection system for prospective migrant workers (CPMI), migrant workers, and their families through a comprehensive approach.
“Protection does not only concern employment aspects, but also encompasses legal strengthening, protection of women and children, and capacity building of human resources,” Mukhtarudin added.
Mukhtarudin also expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection for their commitment to building synergy to deliver complementary policies and services in order to achieve safe migration.
On that occasion, Mukhtarudin also reminded attendees that the establishment of the Ministry of P2MI reflects President Prabowo’s seriousness in strengthening the governance of migrant worker protection, through the institutional transformation of BP2MI into a full ministry.
Mukhtarudin said President Prabowo Subianto had given the Ministry of P2MI two main mandates. First, to improve the quality of protection for migrant workers from before placement, whilst working abroad, through to their return home. Second, to optimise the placement of competent migrant workers into formal sectors in the medium-skilled and high-skilled categories. He revealed that through the Presidential Directive for the 2026-2029 period, the government aims to prepare 500,000 skilled prospective migrant workers to fill various formal and professional sectors in destination countries.
“This target cannot possibly be achieved by the Ministry of P2MI alone. Collaboration across ministries and institutions is required so that every policy and service runs in an integrated and mutually complementary manner,” said Mukhtarudin.
Mukhtarudin explained that the agreed scope of cooperation includes legal guidance and protection for migrant workers, strengthening of Legal Aid Posts (Posbakum), and empowering Posbakum to support the Golden Migrant Village programme (Educative, Advanced, Safe and Prosperous).
“In addition, strengthening coordination in handling the citizenship status of migrant workers and their families, as well as developing human resource competencies,” he said.
One of the primary concerns is the issue of migrant workers’ children who are stateless due to the complexity of citizenship laws in various countries.
According to Mukhtarudin, this issue requires legal breakthroughs and stronger coordination so that children’s rights, from education and care to certainty of citizenship status, can be fulfilled.
“We must find solutions so that migrant workers’ children no longer become stateless, so that they obtain their rights as citizens,” he said.
The Ministry of P2MI continues to strengthen the fulfilment of migrant workers’ children’s rights with reference to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, through reintegration services, facilitation of civil registration documents, psychosocial support, access to education, policy development, and collaboration with ministries, institutions, and regional governments.
Mukhtarudin expressed hope that the signing of the cooperation would soon be followed by the implementation of concrete programmes that provide direct benefits to Indonesian migrant workers and their families.
“I am confident that the collaboration we are building today will become an even stronger foundation in delivering comprehensive protection, achieving safe migration, and ensuring that every Indonesian Migrant Worker and their family obtains their rights and protection optimally,” he concluded.
As additional information, the launch of this cooperation was held with the support of the Australian government through AIPJ3 to enhance the capacity of law enforcement officials, officers, paralegals, and legal aid providers at the village or sub-district level until the end of 2027. This series of training places victims not merely as part of procedures, but as the centre of the justice process, and strengthens protection and synergy among stakeholders in the implementation of the new Criminal Code, the new Criminal Procedure Code, the handling of Sexual Violence Crime cases, crimes related to the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, and People Trafficking crimes.