RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is moving closer to securing broader opportunities for its migrant workers in Malaysia, following a high-level meeting between Minister of Migrant Worker Protection Mukhtarudin and leaders of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) in Kuala Lumpur.

The talks focused on finalizing a cooperation framework that will expand formal employment channels for Indonesian migrant workers. Minister Mukhtarudin confirmed that the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties has reached a final agreement.

“Now the points have all been agreed upon, and legally everything is settled. We just need to find the right time to formalize and sign the agreement between the ministry and MCA on a business-to-business basis,” he said in Jakarta on Thursday, May 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The meeting followed an earlier MCA delegation visit to Indonesia in April 2025. Minister Mukhtarudin emphasized that Indonesia is shifting its workforce profile from low-skilled to medium- and high-skilled sectors.

“Today, Indonesia is preparing skilled workers. We are no longer focused only on lower skill jobs but are moving toward creating medium and high skill employment,” he explained.

He pointed out that Indonesian skilled workers are already being placed in industries such as shipbuilding in South Korea and engineering in China. However, Malaysia remains a challenge due to the high number of non-procedural workers.

Between January 1 and May 17, 2026, the ministry facilitated the repatriation of 5,112 problematic migrant workers, most of whom were undocumented in Malaysia. Minister Mukhtarudin urged MCA to help ensure companies recruit only through official mechanisms.

“We hope MCA can encourage companies and strategic partners in Malaysia to hire migrant workers through formal channels, not non-procedural ones, to strengthen protection for Indonesian workers,” he said.

He also highlighted opportunities for skilled Indonesian workers, particularly in healthcare roles at MCA-owned hospitals and other formal sectors within MCA’s business network.

The cooperation is expected to be followed by the establishment of a Joint Working Group (JWG) or task force to design a long-term roadmap for talent development and migrant worker protection. MCA President Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong welcomed this initiative, praising the close ties between Indonesia and Malaysia.

“We warmly welcome the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection to Malaysia. This is an honor, as Minister Mukhtarudin is the first from Indonesia’s new ministry to visit us. Our relationship has always been close and harmonious,” he said.

Ka Siong expressed optimism about the partnership, noting MCA’s openness to building a holistic and mutually beneficial labor ecosystem. “I am very optimistic this meeting will mark a new chapter for both countries. Let us continue to strengthen this brotherhood to achieve shared prosperity,” he concluded.

This cooperation signals a significant step toward formalizing employment pathways, reducing undocumented labor, and ensuring better protection for Indonesian workers in Malaysia. ***