Indonesia and Turkey Explore Stronger Protection for Migrant Workers

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Migrant Workers Protection (P2MI) Ministry and Turkey’s Labor and Social Security Ministry are exploring ways to strengthen labor regulations in order to better protect the rights and safety of Indonesian migrant workers in the country.

“This visit is a form of recognition of the existence and strategic role of the P2MI Ministry in managing the placement, protection, and empowerment of Indonesian migrant workers,” said P2MI Minister Mukhtarudin, in a press statement from the ministry on Friday, July 24, 2026.

He said the meeting marked an important moment to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Turkey, with the main focus on labor affairs, migrant worker protection, and the development of a professional workforce.

Minister Mukhtarudin said Indonesia and Turkey share the same vision of building a safe, orderly, and mutually beneficial system for international labor mobility. He added that such governance must continue to uphold the principles of decent work and respect for workers’ rights.

“Indonesia welcomes the Turkish administration’s attention to the importance of strengthening cooperation in labor affairs, international professional labor mobility, and the protection of workers’ rights,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

The two countries also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation through the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on labor affairs between the P2MI Ministry and Turkey’s Labor and Social Security Ministry.

“The draft MoU has already been submitted. We are now waiting for a response from the Turkish Labor Ministry regarding the time for signing the MoU,” added Minister Mukhtarudin.

Beyond reviewing cooperation, Minister Mukhtarudin said he hoped the meeting would strengthen communication and coordination between the two ministries. He said this is important to support effective, safe, and sustainable management of international labor mobility.

Minister Mukhtarudin said the meeting was a strategic step toward deepening Indonesia-Turkey bilateral ties in the labor sector while opening broader opportunities for Indonesian migrant workers.

“We believe today’s meeting is an important moment to organize and develop bilateral relations in the labor sector between Indonesia and Turkey. We hope future cooperation will be even better and more constructive for the interests of both countries,” he said.

He also announced plans for a reciprocal visit by the P2MI Ministry to Turkey as part of efforts to strengthen friendship and strategic cooperation between the two ministries.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, expressed optimism about strengthening labor cooperation between Indonesia and Turkey.

“I am very happy to be in Indonesia, a friendly and brotherly country. I would like to thank you for the warm welcome and hospitality shown to me and our delegation,” said Minister Vedat.

He said Indonesia holds a strategic position in international labor mobility. According to him, Indonesian migrant workers have a very good reputation in the eyes of the Turkish administration.

“Indonesians are known as honest workers with a strong commitment to their jobs. These are the two qualities we always remember,” he said.

He added that in recent years there has been a significant increase in work permit applications for Indonesian nationals seeking employment in Turkey.

According to him, the trend reflects growing trust in the quality of Indonesia’s workforce. It also opens opportunities to expand mutually beneficial labor cooperation for both countries. ***