About the Migration Governance Indicators
About the Migration Governance Indicators
Migrants' rights
Migrants' rights

Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.

Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.

Whole of government approach
Whole of government approach

Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.

Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.

Partnerships
Partnerships

This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.

Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.

Well-being of migrants
Well-being of migrants

This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.

Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.

Mobility dimensions of crises
Mobility dimensions of crises

This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.

Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.

Safe, orderly and regular migration
Safe, orderly and regular migration

This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.

Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.

Key findings
INTRODUCTION

This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of Republic of Indonesia’s governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.

The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Impact. Funding is provided by IOM Member States. 

Key findings
MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Foreign workers who have worked for at least six months and have paid contributions to the social security fund through their employers have access to Government-funded health services and social security on the same basis as nationals 
  • In Indonesia, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) operates three shelters dedicated to aiding victims of trafficking  and survivors of gender-based violence.
  • Regular migrants have access to Government-funded primary and secondary education on the same basis as nationals. Further, in 2019, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology approved access to education for school-age refugee children.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Given the large number of Indonesian citizens abroad, increasing cooperation with other countries to ensure the portability of social security and strengthening the protection of Indonesian citizens while they are abroad are areas with potential for further development. 
  • The Government of Indonesia applies limiting conditions for foreign migrants to work in Indonesia.
  • Civil registration and administration services in Indonesia are available to migrants with proof of identity.
  • There is no specific strategy for addressing hate crimes, violence, xenophobia, and discrimination against migrants.
Key findings
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Several ministries and agencies in Indonesia are involved in migration governance, with the Directorate General of Immigration playing a significant role in policy formulation, enforcement, and supervision in the immigration domain.
  • The Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Board (BP2MI) is a non-ministerial government institution responsible for the comprehensive implementation of policies as regards the service and protection of Indonesian migrant workers.
  • BPS-Statistics Indonesia (Badan Pusat Statistik) collects and publishes sex-disaggregated migration data in Indonesian and English based on regular surveys. 

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Indonesia does not have a national migration strategy defined in a programmatic document or manifesto. 
  • The establishment of an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism specifically dedicated to migration issues is an area for further development.
  • Gender equality and non-discrimination are explicitly mentioned under the protection principles for Indonesian migrant workers, but there is no specific coordination mechanism to implement these provisions at the national level.
Key findings
PARTNERSHIPS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Government of Indonesia is an active member of Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs) such as the Colombo Process (CP), the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime.
  • The Government formally engages Indonesian communities abroad in agenda-setting and the implementation of development policy through its Diaspora Congress and other diaspora-related activities.
  • Indonesia participates in bilateral migration negotiations, discussions and consultations with countries of origin and destination. For instance, in July 2023, Indonesia engaged in dialogues with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, focusing on the rights of Indonesian migrant workers.

Areas with potential for further development

  • Closer engagement and active participation between regional mobility mechanisms, such as the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, the Colombo Process, or the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, are potential areas for further development. 
  • CSOs participate in agenda-setting and the implementation of migration policy only on an ad hoc basis. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs involved trade unions, academia and CSOs in the drafting process of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration during a meeting in the city of Bekasi in November 2021. 
Key findings
WELL-BEING OF MIGRANTS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI) was established in 2012 and serves as a reference for the recognition of foreign qualifications. Indonesia also agreed on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Qualifications Reference Framework in 2014, with the aim to benchmark educational qualifications across ASEAN member States.
  • The Government of Indonesia has 18 labour-related memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering both formal and informal sectors. 
  • In 2017, the Ministry of Manpower established an Integrated One-Stop Service (LTSA) called "Layanan Terpadu Satu Atap" to streamline the placement and protection of Indonesian migrant workers.
  • The Government has established partnerships with private actors, such as Bank of Indonesia to empower migrants with financial products and sharia-based remittance schemes.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Taking steps towards ensuring that competencies and certifications acquired by Indonesian migrant workers abroad are recognized domestically is an area for further development. 
  • Indonesia does not have a national assessment monitoring the labour market demand for migrants or monitoring the effects of emigrants on the domestic labour market. 
  • Implementing a specific program for managing labour immigration into Indonesia is another area with potential for development. 
Key findings
MOBILITY DIMENSION OF CRISES

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is responsible for the formulation and determination of disaster management policies, managing internal displacement (IDPs) and coordinating the implementation of disaster management activities.
  • BNPB has a national disaster risk reduction strategy in place for disaster response and displacement management: the National Disaster Management Master Plan (RIPB) for the period 2020–2044 (2020).
  • Indonesia's early warning systems, including the InaTEWS for earthquakes and tsunamis, provide alerts in Indonesian and English via text messages, radio, TV, sirens, and social media.
  • Through the Indonesian Disaster Data Geoportal, BNPB regularly collects data on disaster-induced displacement. 

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Human mobility considerations are not yet effectively incorporated into Indonesia’s environmental and climate change policies. 
  • Indonesia’s National Long-Term Development Plan (Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Panjang Nasional, RPJPN) 2005–2025 (2005) and the National Medium-Term Development Plan 2020–2024 (2020) lack specific measures for addressing displacement.
Key findings
SAFE, ORDERLY AND DIGNIFIED MIGRATION

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Indonesia has established a process for foreign nationals to either register for a visa before their arrival or apply for a visa upon arrival. In addition, foreign nationals can apply for a residence permit prior to arrival in the form of visit stay permits, limited stay permits or permanent stay permits. 
  • There are government programmes and special policies focused on facilitating the reintegration of returning citizens, including facilitating access to employment (e.g. joining the civil service), such as the government programme for the reintegration of retired Indonesian migrant workers – Productive Migrant Village (Desa Migran Produktif, Desmigratif). 
  • In 2023, BP2MI engaged civil society elements in the protection of Indonesian migrant workers to form the Indonesian Migrant Worker Volunteer Community (Kawan PMI). On 22 July 2023, BP2MI appointed 550 Kawan PMI members from five provinces, namely Banten, Central Java, East Java, Lampung and West Java.
  • The Indonesian National Police has established a Police Task Force to prevent and address trafficking in persons at both the national and provincial levels.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • While Indonesia has systems to track and identify missing migrants within its national territory, it lacks agreements or arrangements with other countries in this regard.
  • There is no policy or strategy in place that includes measures for promoting and prioritizing noncustodial alternatives to detention. 

2024 September

Migration Governance Indicators Profile: Republic of Indonesia