Minister of Migrant Worker Protection Explains Efforts to Safeguard 20,000 Indonesian Migrant Workers Amid Escalating Tensions in the Middle East
Indonesia’s Minister of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI), Mukhtarudin, stated that there are 20,000 Indonesian migrant workers or Indonesian labourers (TKI) in several Middle Eastern countries. He said that P2MI has prepared mitigation measures if the conflict worsens significantly.
This was conveyed by Mukhtarudin during a working meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/4/2026). He mentioned that P2MI has formed the Directorate General of Protection’s Crisis Monitoring Team.
“Daily monitoring and coordination with our representatives abroad are carried out. Especially in conflict areas and surrounding conflict zones. And mitigation steps for protection are implemented,” said Mukhtarudin.
He stated that P2MI will consider temporarily halting the deployment of TKI to conflict-affected areas. The Ministry of P2MI will also check placement companies sending migrant workers to those regions.
“So we are also mitigating, so areas that are indeed prone to severe conflict and potentially escalating, we will cool down placements,” Mukhtarudin remarked.
“Then, data collection on P3MI, placement companies, that are sending to the 20 Middle Eastern zones to obtain information on challenges faced by Indonesian migrant workers related to the situation,” he added.
He said that the majority of migrant workers in conflict-affected areas are psychologically impacted. They are said to experience trauma from hearing bomb explosions and missiles on a daily basis.
“Traumatic, this psychological effect they feel because of hearing bombs, missiles, which disrupt their daily lives a bit. And we have prepared online psychological consultations as needed. And this is already underway,” he stated.
He mentioned that there are 20,784 Indonesian migrant workers spread across several countries in West Asia. This data represents active work contracts from 2023 to March 2026.
“There are 20,784 active contracts for our migrant workers in the professional border sector. So from 2023 to 30 March 2026. So there are approximately 20,000 active contracts, meaning people there,” said Mukhtarudin.
Mukhtarudin stated that there were 86 complaints from Indonesian migrant workers on the Iran border during the period from 1 March to 7 April 2026. These migrant workers are spread across regions in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
“Now, from 1 March to 7 April, there were 86 complaints from Indonesian migrant workers on the Iran border. Dominated by Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia with 141 people, Turkey 18 people, and the United Arab Emirates 11 people,” he said.