JAKARTA: Indonesia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the protection of migrant workers during the Second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) 2026 held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Indonesia conveyed the commitment through an Explanation of Vote delivered after the adoption of the Progress Declaration by consensus among all United Nations member states on Friday (May 8).
Indonesia’s Migrant Workers Protection Ministry (KP2MI) Director-General for Protection Rinardi said the country fully supports the Progress Declaration as a reference for global migration governance for the 2026-2030 period under the framework of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
"Indonesia fully supports the Progress Declaration without reservation. The rights and dignity of migrant workers must remain at the centre of global migration governance,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Rinardi said Indonesia highlighted three key points in its Explanation of Vote - full support for the declaration, recognition that countries face different migration realities requiring equal and respectful approaches, and the importance of cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination.
"Differences in migration realities among countries further reinforce the urgency of dialogue and equal cooperation in global migration governance,” he said.
He said stronger cooperation and practical partnerships among countries are essential to ensure effective and sustainable protection for migrant workers.
Rinardi said the Indonesian government, through KP2MI, is committed to implementing the declaration to strengthen protection for more than five million Indonesian migrant workers employed overseas.
The IMRF 2026 forum, held from May 4 to 8, produced the Progress Declaration, which will serve as a global policy reference for migration governance until 2030. - Bernama
