APJATI committed to supporting expanded job opportunities in Malaysia for Indonesian migrant workers
The Indonesian Manpower Services Company Association (APJATI) has reaffirmed its support for expanding employment opportunities for Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) through the organisation of ‘employment business matching’ with partner employers in Malaysia.
According to the General Chairman of APJATI, Said Saleh Alwaini, this activity is part of the association’s efforts to build a safe, professional, and procedurally compliant placement and recruitment process, in line with the directives from the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI).
“Malaysia is the nearest and largest market for Indonesian workers, and that is where unofficial channels most easily grow. The way to combat this is not by adding more regulations, but by increasing the number of legitimate channels and making them easier to access,” Said stated in a written statement received in Jakarta on Saturday.
He noted that the event, held in Kuala Lumpur on 6–7 September 2026, brought together representatives from 44 licensed Indonesian migrant worker placement companies (P3MI) under the auspices of APJATI with partners in Malaysia.
On the first day, APJATI explored collaborations with the Malaysian National Human Resource Organisation (PUSMA), which brought together 40 PUSMA member agencies with the APJATI delegation.
The second day continued with business meetings and direct cooperation explorations between APJATI-member P3MIs and 40 Malaysian business partners and companies, he added.
Said stated that, in addition to building business networks, the agenda helps map Malaysia’s labour needs, which can be aligned with the competencies of Indonesian migrant workers.
The cooperation is also seen as having a specific agenda to expand overseas job access for vocational school (SMK) graduates, aligning with the ‘SMK Go Global’ programme, an initiative proposed by KP2MI.
“This event is expected to serve as a concrete bridge in supporting the implementation of SMK Go Global, from competency readiness to the opening of safe and procedurally correct international placement opportunities,” said Said.
He emphasised APJATI’s commitment, through its network of P3MIs and business partners in destination countries, to continue contributing to bridging the competencies of vocational graduates with the real needs of the global business world.
Said also expressed appreciation for the Indonesian government’s support for the Kuala Lumpur agenda, noted by the presence of the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Mohammad Iman Hascarya, the Labour Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Adhitya Himawan, as well as representatives from the Indonesian Consulates General in Penang and Johor Bahru.