Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers, Abdul Kadir Karding, and Minister of Cooperatives, Budi Arie Setiadi, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing co-ops for migrant workers in Jakarta on Monday.
“Together with the Ministry of Cooperatives, we are pushing for the establishment of migrant worker cooperatives, including mentoring to ensure these cooperatives grow and thrive in line with the ministry’s expectations,” Karding said.
He informed that the purpose of the cooperatives is to enable returning migrant workers to develop businesses and improve the welfare of their families upon returning to Indonesia.
He cited the example of a village in Cirebon, West Java, where 80 percent of the local government officials are former migrant workers.
This shows how returning migrants can contribute to their communities.
The development of migrant worker cooperatives is also aligned with one of President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita programs.
“Many of the retiree migrant workers have already established 331 businesses in Cirebon alone. Their community has the potential to form cooperatives in migrant worker (contributing regions),” Karding noted.
Meanwhile, Minister Setiadi said that former migrant workers can also be invited to participate in the Red and White Village Cooperative program, under which 80,605 cooperatives have been set up across the country as of July 9, 2025.
He emphasized that the program is aimed at creating job opportunities, including for former migrant workers who have experience working overseas.
The government estimates that the village cooperatives could generate at least two million new jobs in villages.
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Translator: Kuntum, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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