By: Dendy Prasetya *)
The government continues its commitment to providing comprehensive protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) by preparing a pension fund scheme specially designed for these foreign exchange heroes. This step is concrete proof that the state is present not only while they work abroad but also when they return home to live their old age safely and decently. The pension fund scheme is prepared as part of long-term protection efforts for migrant workers, considering that they often lack social security after completing their work contracts overseas.
The Ministry of Manpower, together with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, has synchronized policies to ensure this program can be implemented soon. The government wants to guarantee that every PMI receives the same rights as domestic workers in terms of social security, including old-age benefits. Through this pension fund, migrant workers can set aside part of their earnings while working abroad for a more certain future. The collected funds will be managed professionally and transparently by institutions authorized in social security.
Minister of BP2MI, Abdul Kadir Karding, explained that the pension scheme is very important because many migrant workers return to Indonesia with no savings, and some even face economic difficulties after their work contracts end. With the pension fund, PMI will have financial support when they are no longer productive. The government will also provide financial education and literacy training to migrant workers before they depart so they understand the importance of saving for old age.
This initiative also responds to data showing that most PMI work in informal and high-risk sectors such as domestic work, construction, and fisheries, which generally lack adequate social protection. The government aims to make this scheme a universal protection system accessible to all migrant workers, whether formal or informal. Furthermore, the claim and pension disbursement mechanisms will be simplified to ensure ease of access for former PMI in their home regions.
Deputy Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (MenpanRB), Purwadi Arianto, has repeatedly emphasized that protection for PMI is a constitutional mandate and a national priority. Migrant workers are not objects of exploitation but citizens entitled to fair and humane treatment. This pension scheme is one concrete effort to address the vulnerabilities experienced by PMI. According to him, the government is also preparing regulatory instruments to provide a strong legal framework for the program so that it is not easily changed by policy shifts.
Positive responses have also come from civil society organizations and migrant worker communities. They view this policy as a long-awaited form of social justice. Rector of UIN Datokarma Palu, Lukman Thahir, explained that with pension guarantees, migrant workers are expected not to fall into debt or be forced to work abroad again due to lack of income in old age.
In addition, the pension fund scheme opens opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, including with financial institutions, banks, and cooperatives. The government encourages the private sector to participate in expanding the pension fund services for PMI. This program can also be integrated with local economic empowerment programs, such as productive business assistance, so that returned PMI can live economically independent lives in their home regions. Thus, protection for PMI becomes more comprehensive and sustainable.
The pension policy for PMI is not only a social protection instrument but also a reflection of the state’s appreciation for their services and contributions to the national economy. With foreign exchange earnings reaching tens of trillions of rupiah annually, it is only fair that PMI receive equivalent protection. Through this policy, the government seeks to affirm that being a migrant worker does not mean losing fundamental citizen rights. Now, the hope for a more prosperous old age for PMI is no longer a dream but is beginning to become reality.
With the presence of a pension fund scheme for Indonesian Migrant Workers, the government shows a real commitment to the long-term welfare of the nation’s foreign exchange heroes. This program is not only a social protection solution but also a strategic step to create certainty in life after working abroad ends.
Through strong collaboration between ministries, agencies, and the private sector, it is hoped that this policy will be effective and reach all PMI without exception. Ultimately, state protection for migrant workers must be realized not only when they leave and work abroad but also when they return and enter old age peacefully and with dignity.
*) Graduate Student, Uninus Bandung
