Ministerial Decree P2MI 1453/2026 Establishes Mandatory General Competency and Soft Skills Standards for Migrant Workers

Introduction

On 4 August 2026, the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection/Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency issued Decree of the Minister of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection/Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency Number 1453 of 2026 concerning the Establishment of Special Occupational Competency Standards in the Field of General Competency for Indonesian Migrant Workers (“Ministerial Decree P2MI 1453/2026”). Ministerial Decree P2MI 1453/2026 establishes special occupational competency standards in the field of general competency (common competency) for Indonesian Migrant Workers (“PMI”) as the basic competency standards required to support the preparedness and protection of PMI before and during employment overseas.

In its formulation, Ministerial Decree P2MI 1453/2026 was prompted by the development of PMI competencies, which to date has focused more heavily on technical skills according to the relevant employment sector and has not yet had cross-sectoral general competency standards. Accordingly, Ministerial Decree P2MI 1453/2026 was established to ensure that PMI possess nationally standardized general competencies, including soft skills, stress management, and legal and digital literacy, in order to support PMI’s ability to adapt and work effectively in multicultural environments in destination countries.

Key Provisions

• Scope of General Competencies

As stipulated in SECOND DICTUM and elaborated in the Appendix, the Special Occupational Competency Standards in the Field of General Competency (Common Competency) for Indonesian Migrant Workers are comprehensively classified into 4 (four) main competency packages. These four fundamental aspects comprise:

• the ability to apply soft skills;

• understanding of the placement agreement;

• understanding of the employment agreement; and

• application of self-protection instruments.

 

• Focus on the Application of Soft Skills and Digital Literacy 

In particular, the competency unit concerning the application of soft skills (code PK.PMI.001) stipulates that every migrant worker must possess and practice five pillars of personal preparedness, comprising mental, physical, competency, administrative, and financial preparedness.

Furthermore, workers are required to be capable of managing stress and resolving conflicts, understanding the personality types of employers, and, critically, must master multicultural digital literacy (such as information literacy, communication, security, and cultural literacy) to support their interactions. Digital literacy is enhanced to support formal and informal interactions as well as the performance of work duties. The competency standards set out five forms of digital literacy, namely:

• Integration as a National Reference

Based on the mandate expressly set out in THIRD DICTUM, all parameters of these Special Occupational Competency Standards in the Field of General Competency are established as a legally binding national reference. These standards must be fully integrated into all stages of training programs, the implementation of assessments, the issuance of certifications, and comprehensive protection measures for Indonesian Migrant Workers.

Transitional Provisions

FOURTH DICTUM provides room for operational adaptation by stipulating that adjustments to the implementation of these special occupational competency standards must be carried out no later than 12 (twelve) months from the date on which this Decree was officially established, namely 4 August 2026, the date on which this Decree was established.

Closing

With the establishment of Ministerial Decree P2MI 1453/2026, the general competency (common competency) standards for PMI now have more structured parameters and serve as a national reference. This regulation not only emphasizes technical preparedness but also strengthens the general competencies required by PMI to address various challenges before departure and during employment in destination countries, including soft skills, understanding of placement agreements and employment agreements, and the application of self-protection instruments.

The introduction of these standards also underscores the importance of PMI preparedness in facing increasingly multicultural and digitalized work environments. Mastery of effective communication, stress and conflict management, and digital literacy constitutes an integral part of the competencies that PMI must possess to support their ability to adapt, perform their work effectively, and protect themselves against various risks while working overseas.