Caritas Indonesia and the Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People of the Diocese of Pangkalpinang have begun the construction of a vocational training center and migrant information hub at the St. Theresia Migrant Shelter in Batam.
Bishop Aloysius Sudarso, SCJ, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Caritas Indonesia (Yayasan Karina KWI), led the groundbreaking ceremony on May 18, marking what he described as a significant milestone in the Church’s ministry for migrant workers.
“This vocational training center and information hub is built as an expression of the Catholic Church’s concern for the issue of migrants,” said Bishop Sudarso. “As Pope Francis says, whoever meets migrants is meeting Jesus.”
The center is envisioned as a place for skills development and information-sharing for migrant workers and those preparing to work abroad.
Bishop Sudarso said he hopes it will become “a home for migrant workers, where every migrant worker, or anyone, can come and feel welcomed as family.”
The initiative is rooted in a humanitarian spirit and responds to the growing number of trafficking victims in Indonesia, particularly in transit points like Batam.
Father Fredy Rante Taruk, director of Caritas Indonesia, said the facility will provide training and serve as a hub for information on migrant issues.
“Many migrant workers from Indonesia still lack skills and information about working abroad,” said Father Fredy. “This place can become a center for education, outreach, and collaboration networks.”
He said the facility aims to prepare workers with improved competencies and will operate in cooperation with humanitarian partners and local authorities.
“This vocational training center and information hub is a concrete expression of the Church’s service to our brothers and sisters who are migrant workers,” he said. “Here, everyone will receive services in a place that is comfortable and full of love.”
Father Chrisanctus Paschalis Saturnus, head of the diocesan Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People, said the center will be open to all migrant workers and will work in synergy with law enforcement, relevant ministries, and local government units.
He raised concerns about the low skill level and lack of information among many migrant workers, which often leaves them vulnerable to trafficking.
“Because of a lack of information, workers often end up becoming victims of human trafficking,” said Father Paschal. “The services and assistance at this center are expected to equip migrant workers with adequate information before they work abroad.”
The new center will further strengthen the work of the St. Theresia Migrant Shelter, which has been supporting migrants in Batam — a city identified as a major transit hub for trafficking syndicates targeting Malaysia.
A 2022 report by Kompas revealed that at least 200 undocumented migrant workers are sent daily from Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal to Malaysia.
The city’s proximity to Malaysia and Singapore has made it a focal point of organized human trafficking, with involvement from both private and public sectors.
