Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Cooperatives, Budi Arie Setiadi, has said that former migrant workers have a significant opportunity to participate in the Red and White Village/Sub-District Cooperatives program.
The Ministry of Cooperatives is collaborating with the Ministry for the Protection of Migrant Workers (KP2MI) to establish migrant worker cooperatives to provide sustainable employment to ex-migrant workers.
After signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers, Abdul Kadir Karding, on Monday, Setiadi said that the Red and White Village/Sub-District Cooperatives program was designed to create many jobs, including for ex-migrant workers.
The MoU was signed at the KP2MI office in Jakarta.
“Red and White Village/Sub-District Cooperatives will require a large number of competent workers, which can be filled by trained migrant workers,” he said in a ministry press release.
He expressed the hope that the cooperatives for former migrant workers would improve the welfare of their families. He was also promised to equip them with knowledge, skills, and business networks, so that the cooperatives do not remain in name alone, but become real and sustainable sources of livelihood.
Setiadi then gave the example of Koperasi Migran Indonesia Makmur Sejahtera, a cooperative founded by former migrant workers in Surabaya on April 11, 2025, saying it strongly represents the spirit of mutual cooperation and independence.
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According to Karding, in keeping with the Ministry of Cooperatives’ vision, his ministry will synergize the Desa Migran Emas program across Indonesia with the help of cooperatives.
He also cited the success of at least 300 entrepreneurs in Cirebon, who have formed cooperatives to develop their businesses.
“We will establish cooperatives in every region where migrant workers reside,” Karding said.
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On the same occasion, Manpower Minister Yassierli affirmed his readiness to hold a cooperative human resources (SDM) training program for Red and White Village Cooperatives, which are estimated to create around two million new jobs.
Through this inter-ministerial collaboration, it is hoped that former migrant workers will get a strong platform to empower themselves economically and improve their quality of life.
