Indonesia is boosting overseas employment opportunities for its migrant workers by signing formal labor agreements with Albania and Bulgaria. These developments were discussed during virtual high-level talks on 26 January 2026, aimed at identifying labor market requirements and strengthening worker protection mechanisms.
Deputy Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers, Christina Aryani, said that opportunities remain open despite the political uncertainties in Bulgaria. She stressed that the demand for Indonesian workers is high in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors. In hospitality alone, during the tourist season, the need is estimated at between 700 and 800 people, with two- to three-year contracts for positions such as receptionists, cleaners, maintenance workers and therapists.
The manufacturing sector is expected to expand due to investments by South Korean companies that will build automotive factories. Bulgaria has expressed interest in formalizing cooperation, and the Bulgarian Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Borislav Gutsanov, has supported the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia, where the initial draft is in progress.
In parallel, Indonesia is preparing a separate MoU with Albania, with a particular focus on the protection of migrant workers, following cases of non-communication of incidents by Albanian authorities. Aryani underlined that these memoranda are essential for safe and secure employment, reducing costs and ensuring compliance with contractual terms.
As a next step, Indonesia plans another online meeting with the Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Labor to finalize the technical framework of the agreement.
