KP2MI and MCA Collaborate to Promote Empowerment of Indonesian Migrant Workers
Indonesia’s Ministry of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) continues to undertake institutional transformation to strengthen the governance of protection and placement for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI). One of KP2MI’s efforts is to collaborate with the Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA) in an empowerment programme to open comprehensive job opportunities for PMI in Malaysia.
Minister of P2MI, Mukhtarudin, explained that this transformation includes mapping overseas job opportunities, preparing and training skilled prospective PMI, placement and protection services, prevention and enforcement against non-procedural PMI, and empowering PMI, former PMI, and their families.
Mukhtarudin stated that in Malaysia, there are 22,915 recorded PMI placement services, with the majority working in the plantation sector. However, from 1 January to 19 April 2026, the government received 22,915 complaints and 3,768 repatriations, most of which involved non-procedural PMI.
“Given this situation, there is significant potential for collaboration between the Ministry of P2MI and MCA. MCA can play a role in identifying job opportunities and industry skill needs in Malaysia so that training in Indonesia is more targeted. Additionally, forming a joint task force is expected to help resolve disputes between PMI and employers,” said Mukhtarudin during a meeting with the Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA) in Jakarta on Tuesday (21/4/2026).
Furthermore, Mukhtarudin explained that this collaboration with MCA also includes PMI empowerment programmes through training and entrepreneurship scholarships, as well as facilitating the marketing of former PMI products to Malaysia via MCA’s network.
This empowerment programme aligns with the directives of President Prabowo Subianto, who emphasises the importance of enhancing the quality and capacity of prospective PMI through vocational education and skill improvement (upskilling) to optimise the placement of skilled labour abroad.
The placement of PMI in Malaysia will also be promoted through official systems. First, the P to P scheme, which is cooperation between Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Companies (P3MI) and licensed agencies in Malaysia.
Second, developing the G to P (Government to Private) scheme to meet large-scale needs for skilled labour.
KP2MI hopes that MCA can become a strategic partner as a bridge for education for Malaysian entrepreneurs to recruit PMI procedurally and fulfil basic employment rights in accordance with applicable regulations.
Meanwhile, MCA Vice President, Datuk Ir. Lawrence Low, said that cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia has been well-established. This meeting with KP2MI has resulted in important cooperation to enhance PMI skills.
“MCA itself has two universities and an educational hospital. In this cooperation, migrant workers from Indonesia can be developed into professional or vocational personnel, especially for the health and oil palm plantation sectors,” said Lawrence.
Lawrence revealed that Malaysia greatly needs migrant labour. Through this cooperation, he hopes that Indonesian migrant workers can fill labour needs in various sectors, especially those with vocational and professional skills, thereby increasing productivity and providing economic benefits for both countries.
With these various strategic steps, the government aims to ensure that PMI placement not only improves workers’ welfare but also provides real contributions to the national economy in a sustainable manner.