September 22, 2026 | 03:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is expecting more migrant worker placements in Bulgaria. According to Minister for Migrant Workers' Protection Mukhtarudin, the country is expected to reach 4,000 in 2027.
"The number of Indonesian migrant workers in Bulgaria in 2027 will rise and is estimated to reach 4,000 workers in the hospitality sector, especially those from Bali," he said on late Monday, September 21, after attending the 70th anniversary of Indonesia-Bulgaria diplomatic ties event in Jakarta.
In 2026, the number of Indonesian migrant workers placed in Bulgaria has reached around 1,000, comprising young Balinese trained in the hospitality sector.
Indonesia looks to Bulgaria as one of the placement countries for migrant workers due to sufficient workers' protection, clear social security, high salaries, and its relative safety from conflict.
Indonesia is expecting to expand migrant worker placements in Asia and Europe, as global geopolitical turmoil impacts economic growth.
"For 2026, we are opting for countries with favorable geopolitical conditions. Therefore, our targets include Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Turkey in Europe," Mukhtarudin said.
Besides the aforementioned countries, the ministry also opens placement opportunities in several other European countries, such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, and Albania. These countries, he said, are open to receiving more migrant workers, albeit with varying labor needs.
Read: Indonesia Explores Skilled Migrant Worker Expansion to Slovakia
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