Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) is exploring opportunities to place skilled Indonesian migrant workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of efforts to open new job markets in Europe.
The initiative was discussed during a visit by the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Indonesia, Armin Limo, to the ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday.
“We see opportunities in this exploration, particularly to open access to new placements for skilled migrant workers,” Deputy Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Christina Aryani said, as quoted in a ministry press release.
During the visit, Ambassador Limo was accompanied by Samir Zuko and Alma Spahi, representatives of the Labor and Employment Agency, an employment agency under the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Aryani said the meeting discussed potential cooperation in the placement of Indonesian migrant workers to expand access to employment opportunities in Europe while increasing the economic contribution of skilled labor from Indonesia.
She noted that although the number of Indonesian migrant workers currently employed in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains limited, the country has a growing demand for foreign workers, particularly in the service sector.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina has workforce needs in the hospitality sector that could be filled by Indonesian workers,” she said.
In 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina issued fewer than 6,000 work permits to foreign workers, with demand largely coming from service-related occupations such as cooks, chefs, waiters, and housekeepers.
With a relatively small population, Bosnia and Herzegovina is increasingly reliant on migrant labor to sustain economic activity, especially in the tourism and service sectors.
Aryani added that opening job opportunities in new countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina not only expands employment prospects for Indonesian migrant workers but also helps strengthen the global competitiveness of Indonesia’s human resources.
“We will follow up with technical studies to realize this job potential through a placement scheme that is safe, professional, and provides added economic value for Indonesia,” the deputy minister said.
