Jakarta. The Ministry for the Protection of Migrant Workers on Monday signed 13 memoranda of understanding and five cooperation agreements with 14 strategic partners to strengthen cross-sector coordination in safeguarding Indonesian workers abroad.

The agreements bring together a wide range of stakeholders, including the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry, the State-Owned Enterprises Supervisory Agency, regional governments, universities, vocational institutions, civil society groups, and healthcare providers. Among the partners are the Deli Serdang regional administration, the Bandung Institute of Technology, Brawijaya University, Syiah Kuala University, Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative, and several training institutions and hospitals.

The cooperation aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to enhance comprehensive protection for migrant workers while improving the skills and competitiveness of prospective workers in the global labor market.

Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers Mukhtarudin said the agreements would help ensure that guidance, training, and protection efforts are more structured and effective.

“Migrant worker issues are a shared responsibility, and these agreements reflect the collective concern of stakeholders across Indonesia,” he said after the signing ceremony.

Mukhtarudin stressed that migrant workers remain a vulnerable group, working overseas not merely as economic contributors but to sustain their families’ livelihoods. He stressed that migrant workers must be treated as individuals with dignity and rights, rather than as labor commodities.

He also noted that the elevation of the migrant worker protection body into a standalone ministry underscores the government’s seriousness in ensuring their welfare and safety.

“The state must be present to ensure migrant workers gain decent employment, legal assistance, and adequate protection so they can support their families,” he said, urging companies and stakeholders to balance commercial interests with humanitarian responsibility.

One of the key agreements, with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, targets the growing risk of fraud faced by migrant workers, particularly from illegal job advertisements circulating on social media. The partnership aims to strengthen digital monitoring, information literacy, and enforcement against online exploitation.

Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to protecting migrant workers from cybercrime, noting their significant contribution to the national economy through remittances, which totaled around Rp 253 trillion, or $15.2 billion, last year.

“As of mid-December 2025, we have handled more than 300 fraud complaints related to migrant worker recruitment, mostly involving fake job postings on social media,” she said, adding that the agreement would accelerate reporting mechanisms and illegal content takedowns.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the State-Owned Enterprises Supervisory Agency Tedi Bharata described migrant workers as national assets who must be protected to ensure they work safely and return home in good condition. He expressed hope that skills gained overseas would contribute to Indonesia’s development upon their return.

Through these partnerships, the government aims to build a more integrated and humane migrant worker protection system, combining policy, education, digital safeguards, and community support to enhance Indonesia’s global workforce competitiveness.

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