Indonesia, Malaysia sign accord to protect migrant workers

The agreement will regulate the entire process of recruiting, placing and repatriating Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia

The governments have agreed to a discussion to address the high rate of human trafficking between the two countries

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Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, right, greeting Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Photo: EPA

Published: 12:15am, 2 Apr 2022Updated: 2:08am, 2 Apr 2022

Malaysia’s prime minister and Indonesia’s president looked on as officials signed an agreement Friday on the placement and protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia during a meeting in Jakarta.

The memorandum of understanding, signed by Malaysian Human Resources Minister Saravanan Murugan and Indonesian Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah, outlines the One Channel System, which regulates the entire process of recruiting, placing and repatriating Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.

Migrant workers wait for their turn to use one of the four toilets shared among 104 construction workers at their dormitory in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in March, 2022. Photo: Reuters

“Indonesian migrant workers have contributed a lot to economic development in Malaysia,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo said, “so it is only natural that they get maximum rights and protection from our two countries.”

Indonesia’s population of more than 270 million has created a surplus of workers, and Malaysia is one of the main destination countries for them.

According to the National Board for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers, more than 79,000 Indonesian migrant workers recorded work assignments in Malaysia in 2019. The number decreased in 2020 and 2021.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob spoke to a conference during his second visit to Jakarta since he was appointed in August.