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Migrant workers protection minister says demand high for Indonesian staff
There is high demand for Indonesian migrant workers in Japan, while opportunities are also open in countries like Canada and South Korea, Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding has said.
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Indonesian migrant workers board a bus in Padang, West Sumatra, on March 15, 2023. Some 100 women migrant workers from the province and neighboring Jambi, Riau and South Sumatra departed for Malaysia. (Antara/Iggoy el Fitra)
M
igrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding says there is strong demand for Indonesian migrant workers in several countries, such as Japan, which has requested up to 70,000 workers this year.
"This year alone, Japan has requested 70,000 [workers], but we have only managed to provide around 14,000 [workers]," Karding said during the 48th anniversary celebration of the South Sulawesi Family Association (KKSS) at Hotel JS Luwansa in South Jakarta on Saturday, as reported by Antara news agency.
He urged young people from South Sulawesi with skills and an interest in working abroad to apply as migrant workers, especially given the attractive salary offers from placement countries.
“There is extraordinary demand for workers. I believe our children at home should be given choices early on,” Karding said.
“For instance, nurses in Canada can earn between Rp 50 million [US$3,138] and Rp 80 million, while high school graduates looking to work as fishermen or factory workers in Korea can earn between Rp 18 million and Rp 25 million. The only requirement is knowledge of the Korean language.”
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of following proper procedures for those wishing to become migrant workers so the state can monitor and protect their welfare. He reminded his listeners of the risks associated with non-procedural or illegal migration, which can lead to serious issues.
“We have approximately 5 million registered migrant workers across 100 destination countries. Meanwhile, there are about 5.4 million unregistered individuals, often referred to as illegal workers, according to a survey by Bank Indonesia,” he noted.
"This situation is precarious; those who are unregistered often lack skills and language proficiency, leaving them vulnerable to problems."
Karding also highlighted that the foreign exchange earnings from migrant workers were substantial. In 2023, total remittances amounted to Rp 227 trillion.
He reaffirmed his ministry's commitment to protecting migrant workers as part of its primary responsibilities, which include safeguarding migrant workers and creating alternative job opportunities abroad.
“The ministry was established primarily for protection. To ensure that there is no exploitation or injustice faced by migrant workers,” he said.
