Indonesia, Malaysia Deepen Skilled Migrant Worker Cooperation

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is moving to reshape the future of migrant worker placement by prioritizing skills-based employment, as Minister of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI) Mukhtarudin and Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan met in Kuala Lumpur on May 21, 2026.

The meeting marked a new phase in bilateral cooperation, focusing on talent development, integrated protection systems, and long-term workforce alignment with industry needs.

Minister Mukhtarudin explained that Indonesia is preparing an upstream ecosystem by involving academic institutions to train prospective workers before deployment.

“We are building this ecosystem by partnering with the academic sector. Through this platform, our candidates are trained and equipped with new skills before being officially placed,” he said in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday, May 22, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The initiative aims to ensure that Indonesian workers sent abroad possess strong competencies tailored to global industry demands, particularly in Malaysia. Alongside skills placement, discussions also centered on strengthening integrated protection systems to safeguard Indonesian migrant workers.

Minister Mukhtarudin highlighted the implementation of the Halo Migran application, a domestic platform designed to register Indonesian workers in Malaysia, especially those not yet listed in the Computerized System for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (SISKOP2MI) or renewing employment contracts.

He stressed that the process would not burden workers or the Malaysian government. “Document costs and social security are covered by employers. Implementation is carried out through Indonesian representative offices (Indonesian Embassy/Consulate General) without creating new administrative obligations for Malaysia,” he explained.

Indonesia also pushed for an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand formal sector placements, which are expected to enhance both protection and welfare. The meeting produced concrete agreements, with Malaysia expressing support for Halo Migran as a positive step in organizing worker data.

As a long-term follow-up, both countries agreed to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) to draft a roadmap for talent development, competency alignment with Malaysian industry needs, and stronger protection systems.

Minister Ramanan welcomed Indonesia’s modernization efforts, pledging Malaysia’s strategic support. To reinforce this cooperation, a Malaysian delegation is scheduled to visit Jakarta soon to participate in the JWG forum, signaling momentum toward a more structured and mutually beneficial partnership. ***