JAKARTA - Indonesia’s Minister for Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI), Mukhtarudin, has called for stronger financial literacy to help migrant workers manage their earnings more effectively.

“Financial literacy is aimed at enabling migrant workers to be more prudent in managing and using their money,” he said during a meeting with the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT), Yandri Susanto, at the KP2MI office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Mukhtarudin said the discussion focused on improving financial understanding among Indonesian migrant workers, Antara News reported.

He highlighted that roughly 70 per cent of remittances sent home are spent on daily consumption, leaving only 30 per cent for productive purposes.

“The ministry wants to reverse this pattern so that migrant workers can use their money for more productive ventures,” he added.

To address this, KP2MI is promoting education on business creation, money management, and economic planning.

“These financial literacy materials have been printed, distributed, and shared through interviews and official forums,” Mukhtarudin said.

He explained that financial education is provided not only to migrant workers during Pre-Departure Orientation (OPP), vocational training, and other programmes, but also to their families.

“Often, the money sent home is spent on consumption. There are cases where money sent to families is not managed well, even causing new problems within the household,” he said.

Mukhtarudin expressed hope that this initiative would ensure both workers and their families understand how to manage finances wisely.