Photo: illustration.

KUALA LUMPUR - Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI), Mukhtarudin says European countries urgently need more nurses and welders due to labour shortages.

Mukhtarudin said demand for these workers is rising quickly overseas, especially in regions facing population decline.

“Sectors in healthcare, nurses, the demand is very high, welders. We have a demographic bonus while European countries and others are seeing population decline, they lack productive workers, and we have excess productive workers,” he said at the Kemenperin Industrial Training Centre in Denpasar last Thursday. 

He said the ministry still prioritises domestic jobs but also supports Indonesians who want to work abroad.

“They must know the language, must have skills, and we also check whether the protection in that country is good.

“If the protection is not good, we also do not want to send workers there,” he added.

Mukhtarudin said Indonesians should not worry about taking jobs overseas because the government only partners with countries that offer strong protection.

He also said the aim is to ensure Indonesian workers can work safely, be respected, earn good pay, and receive proper social protection.

“We are not chasing placement numbers; if we only chase quantity but ignore protection, we also do not want that.

“Countries that may not be conducive for our migrant workers will not work with them,” he said.