KUALA LUMPUR - The Indonesian Ministry for the Protection of Migrant Workers (P2MI) has highlighted the need to strengthen vocational education as a key strategy to expand the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in more destination countries.

P2MI Deputy Minister Christina Aryani made the statement stressing that better skills and training will help more workers compete for international jobs.

Christina said cross-ministry coordination is now stronger following direct guidance from the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Professor Dr Pratikno.

According to Christina, integration between government agencies is essential to make the placement of Indonesian migrant workers more efficient and better organised.

“One of our duties is to place Indonesian migrant workers abroad, and with this cross-ministerial meeting, the process can now be more integrated,” she said in a statement.

She added that P2MI is preparing clearer skills requirements so vocational graduates, especially from technical high schools (SMK), can directly meet the needs of overseas employers.

“We will prepare what competencies are needed, what kind of curriculum is ideal, and what language is required,” she said.

She also said that the data collected will be applied to vocational schools that are considered potential sources of future migrant workers.

Christina also said aligning vocational school curriculums with the demands of destination countries is important to improve the global competitiveness of Indonesian workers.

She noted that the government is still discussing adjustments to the official structure and terms used in policies supporting vocational programmes and migrant worker placement.

“This is related to the demographic bonus, and the numbers are being finalised across ministries, including the readiness of supplies from SMK and the needs of destination countries,” she said.

She added that the government will make an official announcement once all preparations are complete.

Meanwhile, Pratikno said the government is refining institutional adjustments through a Presidential Regulation to improve governance in vocational education and workforce preparation, including migrant workers.

“There are nomenclatures that need to be adjusted in the Presidential Regulation.

“For example, it mentions the Minister of Education and Culture, but now we already have the Ministry of Education for Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Technology,” he said.

He said the changes are needed to ensure vocational policies and worker preparation efforts respond effectively to global industry needs.