Government targets 500,000 trained professionals as remittances surge in 2025
Indonesia is redefining its migrant labor strategy by prioritizing skills, protection, and long-term economic value as global demand for professional workers rises.
Strategic Shift Toward Skilled Migration
Indonesia is preparing up to 500,000 skilled workers through vocational education and training programs for overseas deployment. Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar said the move reflects a strategic shift away from domestic worker placements toward formal sector jobs that offer stronger legal protection and higher economic returns.
Government Direction and Global Demand
Speaking at the 2025 International Migrants Day commemoration at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in Jakarta, Muhaimin said President Prabowo Subianto has directed ministries to align workforce preparation with global labor market needs. The focus is on producing professionals who can be competitively placed across multiple countries while reducing reliance on informal employment channels.
Expanding Protection and Training Systems
Migrant Worker Protection Minister Mukhtarudin outlined reforms to strengthen worker readiness and safety. These include expanding vocational training starting at the senior high school level, establishing Migrant Villages across all 38 provinces, and providing placement financing of up to Rp 100 million within five working days. Placement processing time has also been reduced to 14 days, with job order verification capped at seven days.
Digitalization and Rapid Response Measures
The government has introduced 24 hour rapid response services for protection complaints, comprehensive employment and health social security coverage, and full digitalization of migrant worker data systems. Recruitment agencies are now required to meet stricter accreditation standards to improve service quality and accountability.
Remittances Reach Record Levels
Indonesia’s migrant workers continue to play a major economic role. Remittances reached Rp 212 trillion by the third quarter of 2025, according to Bank Indonesia data, putting the figure on track to surpass the Rp 253 trillion recorded in 2024. Mukhtarudin said these inflows support macroeconomic stability while directly improving household welfare across Indonesian regions.
Financial Literacy and Long-Term Prosperity
Despite strong remittance growth, the government is pushing for better financial literacy among migrant workers. Mukhtarudin noted that around 70 percent of migrant income is still spent on consumption. Authorities are encouraging savings and investment so returning workers can build businesses and achieve long-term prosperity. He also warned against sharing passports or bank details, citing cases of fraud and money laundering risks abroad.
Recognition of Migrant Workers’ Contribution
During the event, the government symbolically sent off 1,035 Indonesian migrant workers to various destination countries. Both Muhaimin and Mukhtarudin expressed appreciation, calling migrant workers key contributors to national development and foreign exchange earnings.
Indonesia’s shift toward skilled, well-protected migrant labor marks a structural transformation in how the country engages with global labor markets. For Indonesians, it promises safer employment and sustainable income, while for countries like Singapore that rely on skilled regional talent, it signals a more professional and reliable workforce partnership in the years ahead.
Sources: Jakarta Globe (2025) , Jakarta Globe 2 (2025)
Keywords: Indonesian Migrant Workers, Skilled Labor, Overseas Jobs, Worker Protection, Remittances
