Minister Of Manpower Ida: Local Governments Must Maximize BLK To Improve The Quality Of Migrant Workers

Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah asked the local government (Pemda) to be able to maximize the role of the work training center (BLK) to improve the quality of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI).

"Working abroad is seen as an opportunity at this time, and there are consequences, namely we must prepare workers who have competence and skills," said Ida Fauziyah in East Lampung, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, December 19.

He said the community may become migrant workers on condition that they must have certification. So that the responsibility for implementing training is in local governments from the provincial to village levels.

"We encourage an increase in competence through the work training center to be maximized. Especially the work training centers belonging to the provincial, district and city governments to improve the quality of migrant workers," he said.

According to him, having skills and competence is one of the first forms of protection for migrant workers from various harmful actions.

"Through certification, it is a form of protection provided, so it is hoped that PMIs can get a decent salary in accordance with the competencies provided by companies and employers abroad," he said.

He continued, the placement of PMI from year to year continues to increase, but 54 percent have a junior high school education level down. And 61 percent are dominated by female workers who work in the informal sector.

"Based on data as of November 2023, there are 1,918 complaints related to placement that are not in accordance with procedures, this is a challenge for the placement of PMIs. So even though their education is junior high school and below, we must ensure that they have competence through certification," he added.

According to him, the role of improving skills and competence does not only come at the central government level but also needs assistance from local governments through the allocation of funds from the APBD.

"We have carried out certification to improve our skills. Because those who graduated from vocational or high school need to be adjusted to the competence of one of them through BLK. And we continue to build vocational centers in areas that do not yet exist to prepare CPMI to be ready to work in placement countries," he said again.