"We need to prepare (migrant) workers that are genuinely skilled. We will pursue the certification of workers. At least, they have to undergo safety training first," he said at Diponegoro University in Semarang, Central Java, on Saturday.
He pointed out that the number of Indonesians working illegally overseas has crossed five million, similar to the figure for registered migrant workers.
Speaking at a public discussion themed "Opportunities and Challenges in Working Abroad," Karding highlighted that illegal migrant workers are highly vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.
The minister observed that the lack of adequate skills and capabilities of migrant workers is among the notable factors that have placed them in a position vulnerable to exploitative conduct abroad.
According to him, most Indonesian illegal workers go overseas without obtaining the skills required in their countries of destination.
He also placed emphasis on the importance of Indonesian workers honing their capacity to speak foreign languages before deciding to go abroad.
Furthermore, Karding underscored the need for migrant workers to ensure that they opt only for legitimate corridors of placement to avoid problems.
"The state (Indonesia) cannot ascertain a migrant worker's fate if he or she is not registered in the SISKOP2MI in the first place," he said.
SISKOP2MI stands for Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Computerization System, which serves as a digital system that provides protection services for Indonesian migrant workers.
He also informed that Indonesian migrant workers can be found in around 100 countries, including Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and China's Hong Kong.
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Translator: Zuhdiar L, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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