RI targets migrant worker agreement with Portugal by late November

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Portugal are finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding employment opportunities and strengthening legal protections for Indonesian migrant workers, officials said Monday.

The Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) targets signing the bilateral agreement by late November 2026, creating a formal framework to address labor demands driven by Portugal's aging demographic.

"The substance of the MoU should not merely focus on expanding job opportunities; it must also ensure adequate protection arrangements for migrant workers," P2MI Minister Mukhtarudin said while hosting Pedro Portugal Gaspar, President of Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), in Jakarta.

The bilateral initiative builds on an active pilot program placing 30 Indonesian workers in Portugal’s hospitality industry, with plans to expand into construction, agriculture, healthcare, and fisheries following formal ratification.

Under the draft agreement, the two nations will establish structured protection mechanisms covering dispute resolution, legal assistance, social security integration, complaint channels, and repatriation procedures.

To support expanded recruitment, the ministry is advocating for a fast-track protocol in coordination with AIMA to streamline document verification, job matching, and visa issuance.

Gaspar welcomed the structured approach, emphasizing that future labor expansion will prioritize worker safety, rights verification, and formal compliance across all participating sectors.

Translator: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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