Indonesia, Malaysia Enhance Cooperation to Protect Indonesian Migrant Workers

The Government of Indonesia and the Government of Malaysia have agreed on Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers in the Domestic Sector in Malaysia.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Indonesian Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah and Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Dato’ Sri M. Saravanan, witnessed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo  and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday (04/01).

“During this visit, we witnessed the signing of the MoU on the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Malaysia. The MoU will, among other things, regulate the use of a one-channel system for the entire process of placing, monitoring, and returning Indonesian Migrant Workers so that the measures can be monitored properly,” the President said in a joint press statement after the signing of the MoU.

The President also said that the MoU would be implemented properly by all parties.

“Indonesian Migrant Workers have contributed a lot to economic development in Malaysia. They are entitled to rights and protection from the two countries. With PM Sabri’s presence today, I believe this MoU can be implemented properly,” he said.

President Jokowi also encouraged similar cooperation to be continued in other sectors, including in plantation, agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors.

“At the meeting, we also discussed the importance of completing negotiations on maritime and land boundaries. With the opening of the border between the two countries, it is time for the negotiations to be intensified,” the President said.

The two leaders also discussed the prevalence of people smuggling cases.