Indonesia and Sarawak Form Task Force to Protect Migrant Workers

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI) Minister Mukhtarudin hosted Sarawak’s Minister Dato Sri Stephen Rundi Utom and Deputy Minister Datuk Gerawat Gala to finalize a strategic agreement during a high-level meeting at the P2MI Ministry Office in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

The primary objective of the meeting was to address the welfare and placement speed of the 145,000 Indonesian workers (PMI) serving in the Malaysian state. 

The agreement introduces a fast-track administrative system and a joint task force to eliminate non-procedural migration while optimizing the contribution of Indonesian labor to Sarawak’s industrial sectors.

The primary goal of this collaboration is to eliminate illegal migration routes and ensure all workers follow official legal channels. 

"We agreed to overcome the problem of PMI who depart non-procedurally, and we agreed to immediately form a kind of task force or special task unit to conduct strict supervision," Minister Mukhtarudin stated, as quoted by Antara

Beyond tackling illegal migration, both nations are committed to regulatory reform by significantly shortening administrative processing times. Mukhtarudin noted that Indonesia has already reduced its placement and verification process to just 21 days, a move that prompted a reciprocal commitment from Sarawak regarding work visas.

"If Indonesia has prepared the process within 21 days, Sarawak will also do the same for visa acceleration, from the previous 30 days to 20 days," he explained. 

Future cooperation will also involve database synchronization between agencies to ensure that the "job matching" program functions effectively and transparently. The two regions aim to align worker competency with Sarawak’s specific industrial needs through specialized training programs in Indonesia. 

"We will align Sarawak's competency needs with training here, so that migrant workers who graduate from training have immediate placement certainty; this is part of the implementation of President Prabowo Subianto's 'Quick Win' to place 500,000 PMI in 2026," Minister Mukhtarudin added.

During the meeting, the Indonesian minister also emphasized the importance of the welfare of workers' families and thanked Sarawak for providing education to the children of Indonesian laborers. In response, the Sarawak's minister praised the work ethic of Indonesian citizens, particularly within the plantation sector.

"The quality and productivity of Indonesian workers are unmatched. They are very efficient and high-quality, and that is why we want to continue improving the recruitment system and their welfare so that this cooperation can continue," the Sarawak minister remarked. 

He highlighted that Sarawak’s labor needs remain vast, ranging from high-endurance physical labor in upstream industries to skilled professionals in downstream sectors.

The Sarawak delegation concluded that the synergy with Indonesia is vital due to the state's large landmass and relatively small local population. "Sarawak's population is small but our territory is vast, so synergy with Indonesia is very crucial for the economic growth of both regions," Minister Dato Sri noted. ***