Indonesia Prioritizes Migrant Worker Protection in Diplomatic Efforts

In a move to safeguard the welfare and interests of Indonesian migrant workers abroad, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar and Minister for Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Abdul Kadir Karding held a crucial meeting on Tuesday.

The meeting centered on enhancing diplomatic support for migrant workers, recognizing their significant contribution to Indonesia’s economy. Minister Iskandar emphasized, “We want migrant workers to be part of the goals of our foreign diplomacy.”

Migrant Workers: Economic Powerhouse

Indonesia’s migrant workers contribute a substantial amount to the nation’s foreign exchange reserves, nearly Rp300 trillion annually. This economic significance underscores the need for comprehensive attention from all relevant ministries and agencies regarding their departure, placement, protection, and return. Minister Karding highlighted this crucial point, stating, “Attention must be given from upstream to downstream to create job opportunities and a favorable market share in the future.”

He added, “we believe that we can eventually rival the foreign exchange earnings from the oil and gas sector, provided that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all relevant ministries prioritize migrant worker diplomacy as a key focus in our future diplomatic efforts.”

The Indonesian government aims to amplify its diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety, well-being, and rights of its migrant workers across the globe.

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Learn more about the initiatives being undertaken to protect Indonesian migrant workers and how you can contribute to their well-being.