TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Migrant Worker Protection (KP2MI) Mukhtarudin visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday and met with members of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) to encourage the expansion of formal employment opportunities for Indonesian migrant workers.
"Now we have both agreed on the points and contents, and from a legal perspective, everything has been finalized," said Minister Mukhtarudin regarding the collaboration with MCA, as stated by the Ministry of P2MI in Jakarta on Thursday, May 21, as quoted by ANTARA.
"We just need to find time together to inaugurate and sign a solid B2B (Business-to-Business) agreement between the ministry and the MCA," Mukhtarudin added. The meeting was a follow-up to the MCA delegation's visit to the KP2MI office at the end of April last year.
Minister Mukhtarudin emphasized that the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation between the two parties has reached a final agreement and is expected to be inaugurated soon.
In his statement, Mukhtarudin said that Indonesian migrant workers are now more likely to be employed in medium- and high-skilled jobs than in low-skilled ones. "Today, Indonesia has prepared a workforce of skilled workers. We are no longer just focusing on lower skills, but have aimed at creating a workforce of medium and high skills," he said.
For this reason, he stated that KP2MI has placed many skilled migrant workers in the South Korean shipbuilding industry and the Chinese engineering sector. Regarding placement in Malaysia, the Ministry of P2MI emphasized the significant challenges of procedural placement because many Indonesian migrant workers are employed in the country illegally.
From January 1 to May 17, 2026, the Ministry of P2MK facilitated the repatriation of 5,112 problematic migrant workers, most of whom worked in Malaysia without proper procedures or documentation.
"Therefore, we hope that the MCA can help support and encourage companies and strategic partners in Malaysia to only recruit migrant workers through official mechanisms and not employ undocumented workers, in order to improve the protection of migrant workers in Malaysia," he said.
Therefore, Mukhtarudin encouraged improvements in placement management and hoped that MCA would prioritize employment opportunities for skilled migrant workers, particularly healthcare workers in MCA-owned hospitals, and other formal sectors, through the network of companies under its association.
The meeting between the P2MI Minister and the MCA is expected to result in the formation of a Joint Working Group (JWG) or Joint Task Force. This group will develop a long-term roadmap for talent development and strengthen the migrant worker protection system in Malaysia.
Responding to optimism over the planned cooperation, MCA President Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong expressed his appreciation for the visit of the Indonesian delegation. He emphasized that relations between Indonesia and Malaysia have been very close and harmonious.
"We welcome the Ministry of P2MI to Malaysia. The relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia is very close. It is a great honor that Mr. Mukhtarudin is the first minister from Indonesia's new ministry to visit us at the MCA," he said.
The MCA stated that it is open to establishing a close partnership with Indonesia, particularly in developing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial workforce placement ecosystem.
"I am very optimistic that today's meeting will make history for both countries. Let us continue to strengthen this fraternal relationship to achieve shared prosperity," said Ka Siong.
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