President Jokowi Sends Off Migrant Workers to S. Korea under G-to-G Scheme

President Jokowi Monday (10/17) sends off Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) to South Korea under the G-to-G scheme at El Royale Hotel, Jakarta. (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Rusman)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Monday (10/17) sent off Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) to South Korea under the government to government (G-to-G) scheme at El Royale Hotel, Jakarta.

In his remarks, the President expressed his joy as the workers to be dispatched are human resources with great competence, skills, and spirit.

“I saw earlier that you are very optimistic. I am elated because you are prepared. There is training. The goal is clear,” the President said.

The President stated that there are greater requests for PMI through other schemes such as private-to-private and business-to-business (B2B). For this reason, the President ordered relevant ministries/institutions such as Ministry of Manpower and the Agency for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI) to prepare workers with good skills.

“I am happy that there will be more using the private-to-private, B2B schemes. They are in high demand. There is a request for 1,800 welders. If we don’t prepare for this [request]… The skill is not an easy one,” the President said.

“This is a big task for Minister of Manpower and Head of BP2MI. So, we really have to prepare highly skilled workers,” he added.

President Jokowi elaborated that currently the number of PMI working abroad has reached nine million people but only half of the number were legal workers. On this matter, the President ordered the BP2MI to continue to record all PMI abroad in order to reduce the number of illegal migrant workers.

“I ordered Mr. Benny Rhamdani 2.5 years ago to trim, reduce, and eliminate [migrant workers]. All our migrant workers must be recorded, must be monitored. We must know where they work because this is related to their protection, the safety of all,” he said.

The President also advised the PMI to be wise in using their earnings. “Just because you have been in (South) Korea, so you buy the finest phone. It’s a wasteful behavior, be careful. You buy the finest clothes, branded ones. Just save it in your account, in your credible account,” he remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (FI/MUR)