KP2MI Designs SMK Go Global Program to Encourage Brain Circulation of Indonesian Talent

Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) Mukhtarudin (fourth from left) and Deputy Minister of P2MI Christina Aryani (fourth from right) attend a press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 5, 2026. (ANTARA/Uyu Septiyati Liman)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Workers Protection (KP2MI) is trying to encourage the increase in brain circulation or the reciprocal movement of skilled labor through the SMK Go Global Program. This program is designed so that Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who return from the placement country can have a positive impact on national development.

Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers, Mukhtarudin, explained that brain circulation will produce talents with global standards of competence, mental, experience, and work ethic.

"Not a few migrant workers who have completed contracts abroad, return to their homeland, then build micro-businesses or re-enter the workforce in Indonesia to occupy better positions," said Mukhtarudin at a press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday.

Target 500 Thousand Talenta Kerja to Abroad

The government targets the SMK Go Global Program to facilitate 500 thousand Indonesian talents to work abroad during the period 2026-2029. This scheme includes 300 thousand SMK graduates and 200 thousand workers from the general category.

To achieve this target, the KP2MI has prepared the following stages for the departure of Indonesian Migrant Workers (CPMI):

2026: 40 thousand CPMI2027: 140 thousand CPMI2028: 180 thousand CPMI2029: 140 thousand CPMI

The framework of the Asta Mandala Philosophy: Five Successes and Three Impacts

Mukhtarudin emphasized that the sustainability of this program is guided by the philosophy of Asta Mandala SMK Go Global, which consists of Panca Sukses as an implementation strategy and Tri Dampak as the ultimate goal.

Panca Sukses includes five main pillars:

Success in Competence: Improvement of human resources quality according to the standards of global labor market needs. Success in Protection: Guarantee of working through legal, safe, and protected channels. Success in Placement: Job placement based on industry needs (demand-driven). Success in Remittance: Improvement of the welfare of SMEs and their families while contributing to the country's foreign exchange. Success in Governance: Implementation of professional, transparent, accountable, and integrated programs.

Meanwhile, the Tri Impact targeted includes:

Social Impact: Increased employment opportunities and community welfare. Improvement of Human Capital Quality: The creation of competent and professional Indonesian human resources. Economic Impact: Increased remittances to strengthen the family economy and the country's foreign exchange.

"Asta Mandala SMK Go Global is not merely a framework for the implementation of the program, but a commitment of the government to make the placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers as a strategy for the development of global competitive human capital. This is what we call brain circulation," concluded Mukhtarudin.

KP2MI is optimistic that this program will be a driving force for the birth of superior talent as well as strengthening the nation's competitiveness towards the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045.