Indonesia Seeks Stronger Protection for Migrant Workers in Malaysia
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) Mukhtarudin held a coordination meeting with various Indonesian representatives in Malaysia to finalise the substance ahead of the 14th Annual Consultation between the two countries. The summit meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to take place in the first or second week of August 2026 in Penang.
Mukhtarudin stated that cooperation in the migrant worker sector must be strongly integrated, from Indonesian representatives abroad and the central government to provincial, district/city, and even village administrations. "Many stakeholders are firmly involved in the derivative regulations of the law. Therefore, this must be our common basis for synergy to genuinely implement the mandate of migrant worker protection," said Minister Mukhtarudin in a statement.
During the online meeting on Friday, Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo highlighted two crucial issues regarding migrant worker protection that require immediate attention from both parties. First, Indonesia hopes to accelerate the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the recruitment and placement of Indonesian formal sector workers in Malaysia to ensure better legal certainty. Second, Iman urged the Malaysian government to grant legal recognition to Community Learning Centers (CLC) located outside plantation areas, to ensure that the educational rights of Indonesian migrant workers’ children are properly fulfilled.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) affirmed that fulfilling the educational rights of Indonesian children in Malaysia is a crucial part of protecting the largest group of Indonesian nationals abroad. "This is the problem. These children may be born and raised in Malaysia, but they remain Indonesian children. Their future is something we cannot ignore," said Suharti. She explained that this focus on overseas education aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision, particularly the agenda of strengthening human resources, science, technology, and health. The ministry translates this directive through the vision of Quality Education for All. "The word ‘all’ has a profound meaning. It means every Indonesian child, wherever they are, without exception, must be able to access quality education and complete at least secondary education," she stated. Suharti acknowledged the immense challenges in expanding this access, noting that even domestically, around 20 percent of children aged 16 to 18 are not enrolled in secondary education. The challenge is multiplied for the children of migrant workers, especially those who are undocumented in Malaysia. Through this coordination with the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Ministry of P2MI, the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education is committed to finding comprehensive solutions so that no Indonesian child in Malaysia is deprived of their right to learn. By integrating labour protection policies and educational access expansion, the government is optimistic it can deliver more holistic protection for Indonesian citizens in Malaysia, demonstrating the state’s tangible presence in ensuring the welfare of migrant workers and safeguarding the future of the nation’s next generation abroad.