JAKARTA -  Indonesia’s Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers said it signed an agreement with the North Sulawesi provincial government to open more overseas job routes for residents from the province.

The agreement was signed by Migrant Worker Protection Minister Mukhtarudin and North Sulawesi Governor Mayjen TNI (Ret.) Yulius Selvanus at the KP2MI office in South Jakarta on Friday, April 24, according to a ministry statement published on April 25. 

Mukhtarudin said the ministry wants more Indonesians to leave for overseas jobs through official channels, with protection before departure, while working abroad, and after returning home. “This cooperation is a concrete implementation of central and regional government synergy. We are committed to providing maximum protection before departure, during work, and after returning home,” Mukhtarudin said.

The minister said the government is targeting 500,000 competent Indonesian workers overseas by 2029, including caregivers, hospitality workers, nurses and welders. He said the plan is also tied to programs such as SMK Go Global, which prepares vocational school graduates for work abroad.

Yulius said the agreement could help North Sulawesi deal with unemployment. He said the province’s open unemployment rate had reached 6.12%, with around 1.2 million people of working age and an estimated 100,000 to 120,000 unemployed residents.

“Honestly, creating formal jobs in the region is a major challenge,” Yulius said.

The governor said North Sulawesi is still trying to bring in investors, including in the blue economy, mining and natural resource sectors, but overseas work could offer a faster option for residents who need jobs now.

Yulius pointed to Japan as one possible destination, saying demand could reach 2,000 workers. He said the biggest barriers for North Sulawesi residents are language, culture and skills training, and some candidates also lose interest when training takes as long as six months.

BPS North Sulawesi recorded an open unemployment rate of 6.03% in February 2025, with 1.38 million people in the labour force and 1.29 million employed residents. BPS also said only 571,360 workers, or 44.12% of employed residents, were working in formal jobs.