JAKARTA - Indonesia is stepping up efforts to strengthen protections for its migrant workers in Malaysia ahead of the 14th Annual Consultation between the two countries scheduled for August.

The high-level meeting is expected to bring together Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Penang during the first or second week of August this year.

Indonesia's Minister of Migrant Workers Protection (P2MI) Mukhtarudin recently held a coordination meeting with Indonesian representatives in Malaysia to finalise key issues ahead of the bilateral talks, as reported by Antara.

Mukhtarudin said cooperation on migrant worker affairs must involve all levels of government, from overseas missions and central authorities to provincial, district and village administrations.

“Many stakeholders are explicitly involved in implementing regulations derived from the law.

“Therefore, this must become our shared foundation to synergise in implementing the mandate of migrant worker protection in a tangible manner,” he said.

During the virtual meeting on June 12, Indonesia's ambassador-designate to Malaysia, Datuk Iman Hascarya Kusumo highlighted two priority issues requiring immediate attention from both governments.

First, Indonesia hopes to accelerate the finalisation of a memorandum of understanding on the recruitment and placement of Indonesian formal-sector workers in Malaysia.

The proposed agreement is expected to provide greater legal certainty and protection for migrant workers.

Second, Indonesia is seeking legal recognition from Malaysia for Community Learning Centres (CLCs) located outside plantation areas.

Such recognition would help ensure migrant workers’ children have access to education regardless of their parents’ employment sector.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education stressed that safeguarding the educational rights of Indonesian children in Malaysia remains a crucial component of protecting its citizens abroad.

Its Secretary-General Suharti said tens of thousands of school-age Indonesian children in Malaysia, many of whom are children of migrant workers, continue to face barriers to education.

Some of these children are undocumented.

“Now, this is the problem. These children may have been born and raised in Malaysia, but they remain Indonesian children.

“Their future is something we cannot simply ignore,” Suharti said.

She said expanding educational access for Indonesians overseas aligns with President Prabowo’s Asta Cita national development agenda, particularly in human capital, science, technology and health.

According to Suharti, the ministry’s vision of “Quality Education for All” applies to all Indonesian children regardless of where they reside.

“The word ‘all’ carries profound meaning. It means all Indonesian children wherever they are, without exception, must have access to quality education and be able to complete at least secondary education,” she said.

Suharti acknowledged that expanding educational access remains a major challenge even within Indonesia, where around 20 per cent of children aged 16 to 18 are not enrolled in secondary education.

She added that the challenge is even greater for children of migrant workers, particularly those without legal documentation in Malaysia.

Indonesia said it remains committed to finding comprehensive solutions to ensure no Indonesian child in Malaysia is deprived of education.

Authorities believe closer coordination between migrant worker protection policies and education initiatives can provide more holistic support for Indonesian citizens living abroad.

Malaysia is home to one of the largest Indonesian migrant communities overseas, with workers employed in sectors such as plantations, construction, manufacturing and domestic work.

The welfare of Indonesian workers and their families has long been a key issue in bilateral relations between the two countries.

Access to education for migrant workers’ children, especially undocumented children living outside plantation areas, remains a longstanding challenge.

CLCs have been established in some locations to provide basic education, but legal recognition and access vary depending on local regulations.

The upcoming Annual Consultation provides an opportunity for Malaysia and Indonesia to address longstanding labour and education issues affecting migrant communities.

Stronger protections for workers and greater access to education for their children could improve welfare outcomes while strengthening bilateral ties.