Tens Of Thousands Of Illegal Fisheries Migrant Workers, Government Prepares Improved Governance

Minister of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), Abdul Kadir Karding (ANTARA)

"They are not recorded. Unprocedural," said Karding, quoted on Friday, March 21.

Based on data from the Ministry of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (KemenP2MI), only 988 fisheries sector migrant workers were recorded in 2023, and about 677 people in early 2025.

Those recorded are part of the placement of migrant workers in the government to government or G to G cooperation route with the Government of Taiwan and South Korea.

For this reason, Karding views it as important to improve the governance of migrant workers in the fisheries sector, including ship crew migrant workers (ABK). "And the Ocean Justice Initiative will be able to help us improve, especially regarding governance," he added.

Later, he continued, improving the management of migrant workers in the fisheries sector will cover the placement, protection and service sides. This is to build a healthy ecosystem for Indonesian migrant workers.

The overall governance of Indonesian migrant workers will also highlight the increase in quantity and quality as directed by President Prabowo Subianto.

Karding said, KemenP2MI has taken many approaches to many parties at home and abroad to increase job opportunities for Indonesians abroad.

Upaya peningkatan kuantitas itu, lanjut dia, akan dibarengi dengan peningkatan kualitas calon pekerja migran Indonesia (CPMI) dengan beragam pelatihan sehingga mereka yang dikirim kompeten dan mampu bersaing dengan pekerja negara lain.

Menurutnya, saat ini pelatihan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan dan kompetensi calon pekerja migran Indonesia sebelum berangkat ke luar negeri telah menjadi suatu keharusan.

"Training must be appropriate. I also ask that the hours and days of training be added, so that the resulting migrant workers are really good," said Karding.