"East Java is a concrete example of a region providing support for its residents who are working abroad," he stated during a meeting with East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday.
He expressed appreciation to the East Java Provincial Government for its strong commitment to safeguarding Indonesian migrant workers, including by preventing non-procedural placements of workers by disseminating information in villages.
The P2MI Ministry aims to improve the quality of work placements and is committed to eliminating violence and human trafficking practices, which still pose risks to Indonesian migrant workers.
Karding also underlined that remittances from Indonesian migrant workers are a major source of national revenue, totaling Rp253.3 trillion (around US$15.6 billion) in 2024, with a target increase to Rp439 trillion in 2025.
During the meeting, the minister and the governor discussed concrete steps to strengthen the protection of migrant workers from East Java, such as by providing shelters in destination countries.
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"Shelters are important as places for communication, sharing experiences, and receiving psychosocial support," Parawansa stated.
She also underscored the importance of providing language training for prospective migrant workers before their departure through cooperation among training institutions, job training centers, and communities.
The governor noted that protection for migrant workers should continue until they return home so that retired workers can remain productive and become trainers, MSME players, or drivers of the local economy.
East Java is the largest contributor of migrant workers among provinces in Indonesia. In January-February 2025 alone, 11,265 migrant workers from the province departed. The number is projected to reach 70,422 people this year.
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Translator: Willi Irawan, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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