Indonesia Lifts Ban on Migrant Workers to Saudi Arabia

Indonesia is set to lift its decade-long moratorium on sending migrant workers to Saudi Arabia, following assurances of improved labor protections from the Gulf nation. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), aimed at facilitating legal placements, will be signed later this month in Jeddah, with the first batch of workers expected to depart by June 2025. Minister of Migrant Worker Protection Abdul Kadir Karding highlighted that Saudi Arabia now guarantees a minimum wage of 1,500 riyals ($400) and offers health, life, and employment insurance. This decision, approved by President Prabowo Subianto, comes as Saudi Arabia faces a demand for around 600,000 Indonesian workers, including domestic and formal sector jobs. The previous ban had been imposed in 2015 due to concerns over labor rights violations, leading to many Indonesians resorting to illegal migration. The Indonesian government aims to create a safer environment for workers while capitalizing on the significant remittances that could support the country's economy.