Indonesia targets 500,000 skilled migrant workers by 2029

Indonesia is intensifying efforts to enhance the quality and welfare of its migrant workers through new training facilities and bilateral diplomacy. Indonesian Minister of Migrant Worker Protection, Mukhtarudin, inaugurated the Migrant Center at Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung. This one-stop service center aims to provide competency training, language skills, and certification to prepare skilled, professional workers for the global market. The government has set a target to prepare 500,000 skilled migrant workers by 2029 to meet international demand caused by aging populations in other nations.

In parallel, Indonesia and Malaysia are discussing improvements to labor rights and working conditions. During a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Human Resources Minister Dato' Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, Indonesia advocated for higher wages and better protection for migrant workers, particularly those in the domestic sector. Discussions included Malaysia's potential plan to increase its monthly minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000. Additionally, Malaysia has proposed raising the maximum age limit for Indonesian migrant worker candidates from 40 to 45 years, which would expand employment opportunities for older workers.