To Reduce Unemployment, North Sulawesi Provincial Government and KP2MI Open Access to Overseas Jobs
Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) Mukhtarudin and North Sulawesi (Sulut) Governor Major General TNI (Ret.) Yulius Selvanus signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and cooperation agreement (PKS) at the Ministry of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) office in South Jakarta on Friday (24/4/2026).
This step represents a synergy between central and regional governments to improve the quality of placement and protection for Indonesian migrant workers (PMI).
The signing was attended by several officials, including Acting Head of the Regional Secretariat (Sekda) of North Sulawesi Province Denny Mangala, Head of the Communication, Informatics, Public Relations, and Statistics Office Zainuddin Saleh Hilimi, and Head of the Education Office Femmy Suluh.
Also present were Acting Head of the Manpower and Transmigration Office Noldy Z Salindeho, Acting Head of the Health Office Rima F Lolong, KP2MI Secretary General Police Commissioner General (Komjen) Dwiyono, Director General of Empowerment Muh Fachri, and Director General of Protection Rinardi.
Meanwhile, Mukhtarudin was accompanied by KP2MI Secretary General Police Commissioner General (Komjen) Dwiyono, Director General of Empowerment Muh Fachri, and Director General of Protection Rinardi.
The transformation from BP2MI to a ministry enables the institution to function as both operator and regulator in accordance with Law Number 18 of 2017, strengthened by Presidential Regulation of 2024.
“This cooperation is a concrete implementation of synergy between central and regional governments. We are committed to providing comprehensive protection, from pre-departure, during work, to post-return to the homeland,” said Mukhtarudin in a press release received by Kompas.com on Saturday (25/4/2026).
He added that KP2MI is now promoting the enhancement of worker competencies from low skill to medium-high skill categories.
The government targets the placement of 500,000 competent workers by 2029 in strategic sectors, such as caregivers, hospitality, nurses, and welders, through the SMK Go Global programme.
Both parties agreed to enhance human resource capacity through training so that prospective workers have competencies before working abroad. In addition, preventive measures are strengthened to reduce non-procedural departures.
The programme also includes empowering former migrant workers through economic training, including support for families in Sulut to achieve greater financial independence.
Mukhtarudin emphasised that this cooperation is a follow-up to President Prabowo’s directives on strengthening the protection of citizens abroad.
“In line with the President’s directives, we will carry out this mandate optimally. It is hoped that this cooperation can address challenges and opportunities synergistically,” he said.