Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Remittances sent by Indonesian migrant workers reached Rp 212 trillion, or about $12.7 billion, by the end of the third quarter of 2025, highlighting their increasingly important contribution to the national economy, Migrant Worker Protection Minister Mukhtarudin said on Thursday.
Speaking at the 2025 International Migrants Day commemoration at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in Jakarta, Mukhtarudin said remittances not only support macroeconomic stability but also directly improve the welfare of migrant workers' families in their home regions.
The figure is also on track to surpass total remittances recorded in 2024.
"Remittances in 2024 amounted to Rp 253 trillion, and there is a strong chance this will be exceeded, as by the third quarter of 2025 remittances have reached around Rp 212 trillion, based on Bank Indonesia data," Mukhtarudin said.
He said the government continues to strengthen protection frameworks while improving the quality and skills of Indonesian migrant workers to ensure their economic contribution remains sustainable.
Efforts are also being directed toward better income governance and financial literacy so that remittances can be used more productively.
"About 70% of migrant workers' income is spent on consumption and is not yet productive. We hope migrant workers can build savings and invest, so that when they return home, they have capital to start businesses," Mukhtarudin said.
He also warned migrant workers against sharing passports or bank account details with others, citing frequent cases of fraud and legal violations stemming from lack of awareness.
"There are cases where migrant workers' bank accounts are used for money laundering, causing them to be considered in violation of the law in their host countries," he said.
Mukhtarudin said the government has carried out a comprehensive reform of migrant worker management to improve competencies, protect rights, and ensure workers can achieve long-term prosperity from their overseas employment.
"Today is a momentum to show the world that Indonesia has transformed, both institutionally and in regulatory terms, in protecting its migrant workers," he said.
At the same event, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar expressed appreciation for Indonesian migrant workers, calling them heroes of foreign exchange earnings.
Muhaimin said the government is committed to preparing 500,000 skilled migrant workers through state-led vocational education and training programs.
"We are continuing to increase the number of professional migrant workers in the formal sectors while reducing reliance on domestic worker placements," he said.