JAKARTA - Indonesia’s migrant worker ministry (KP2MI) has opened its subsidised pre-departure loan scheme to all prospective workers heading abroad, after utilisation had been largely concentrated among internship programme graduates.

The KUR Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia 2026, formally launched on March 11 at the KP2MI office in South Jakarta, offers up to Rp100 million per worker at 6 percent annual interest over up to three years, less than half the roughly 12 percent rate on commercial loans. 

“The government is here to provide financing support with a maximum ceiling of up to Rp100 million and a term of up to three years. These funds can be used to cover training costs, certification, documents, and departure tickets,” Minister Mukhtarudin said. 

He also warned the 17 partner banks not to let the programme stop at the ceremonial level, instructing them to take it down to village level. 

The wider reach follows a structural change at the end of December 2025, when budget authority over the KUR Penempatan was transferred from the Ministry of SMEs to KP2MI, consolidating oversight under the ministry responsible for migrant worker protection. 

Dirjen Penempatan Ahnas set a 2026 disbursement target of Rp393.5 billion, channelled through banks including Mandiri, BRI, BNI, BSI, and several regional development banks. That’s up from Rp331 billion announced at the programme's pre-launch in February.

In 2025, about 296,000 Indonesian workers were placed abroad against a government target of approximately 253,000 per Mukhtarudin. Their remittances reached Rp288 trillion, up 14 percent from Rp253 trillion in 2024, per Bank Indonesia data. 

KP2MI is targeting 700,000 placements in 2026, including a Quick Win sub-target of 500,000, of which 300,000 slots are allocated to vocational high school graduates through the SMK Go Global programme.