Indonesia Wants to Review MoU on Migrant Worker Placement to South Korea

TheIndonesia.id - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has revealed that the existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the placement of Indonesian migrant workers to South Korea needs to be reviewed as it was first signed in 2012.

Marsudi said during a high level meeting between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his South Korean counterpart President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Thursday, July 28, Indonesia asked the East Asian country to review the MoU.

“Indonesia recommended the MoU on the placement of workers, signed in 2012, to be reviewed,” she said on Thursday.

According to the Minister, as of March 2022, there were more than 28,000 Indonesian migrant workers in South Korea, and the majority of them worked in manufacture and fisheries.

Indonesian government also reportedly eyed an opportunity to send workers for semi-skilled labor.

Therefore, it suggested more sectors to be included in the MoU if review process is agreed and is to take place.

President Widodo, Minister Marsudi, and a number of state officials have just wrapped up their visit to South Korea where they meet the country’s officials and leaders of a number of world’s largest companies, such as LG and Hyundai.

“The President’s commitment is clearly to strengthen cooperation, especially in economy. In the meeting, the CEOs showed interest to expand and start new investments in Indonesia,” Marsudi revealed.