First Meeting of Türkiye-Indonesia Inter-Ministerial Joint Working Commission was Held in Jakarta

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Işıkhan noted that this year marks the 76th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Indonesia, stating: "Of course, our historical ties date back much further—to approximately four centuries ago. As two strategic partners and leading nations of the Islamic world, we believe our relations hold significance not only at the bilateral level but also at regional and global levels. The close cooperation we demonstrate in multilateral platforms such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the G20, and MIKTA is one of the most concrete indicators of this. With this understanding, we elevated our relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership in 2011."

We were Guided by the Brotherhood Between Heads of State

Noting that the strong bond of friendship and brotherhood established between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has guided their efforts, Işıkhan said, “We are pleased to see that, alongside the increasing high-level contacts in recent years, our relations in the field of labor are also developing day by day. As the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, we attach great importance to strengthening our ties with our counterparts in our brother nation, Indonesia.”

Experiences in the working life will be Shared

Emphasizing that the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation—signed in 2023 to foster collaboration in the labor sector between the two countries' ministries—marks a significant milestone in their relations, Minister Işıkhan continued:

“During the meeting we held with Mr. Yassierli in Doha on October 17, 2025, we agreed to prepare and implement an Action Plan to support this Memorandum of Understanding with concrete projects. Today, we have gathered to hold the inaugural meeting of our Joint Working Commission, which will give greater operational substance to our cooperation. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this effort—especially the Minister and his team—for their dedicated work in bringing this process to a successful conclusion. I believe that the Joint Working Commission meetings serve as a vital mechanism for strengthening cooperation between our ministries and realizing our shared goals. I attach great importance to the mutual exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices in the fields of labor and employment policy, just as in all other areas”.

Cooperation to Become Concrete Through Signed Action Plan

Noting that the 2026-2027 Action Plan would officially come into effect with the signed protocol—thereby placing cooperation between the two countries' ministries on a more institutional, concrete, and sustainable footing—Işıkhan stated: "Within the scope of the Action Plan, it will be possible to conduct joint work in areas such as employment policies, labor markets, occupational health and safety, the digital transformation of working life, and the development of services for disadvantaged groups, as well as enhancing the effectiveness of labor inspections, strengthening the national qualifications system, and advancing vocational training and skills development. I would like to particularly emphasize that, as a Ministry, we are always ready to share our knowledge and experience with our Indonesian friends regarding all matters within our mandate. I wholeheartedly believe that the cooperation we develop will yield tangible benefits not only for our ministries but also for the workers, employers, and citizens of both countries."

Işıkhan expressed his hope that the first meeting of the Joint Working Commission would lead to fruitful outcomes for both nations.

Following the Joint Working Commission meeting, Minister Işıkhan also held a bilateral meeting with Mukhtarudin, the Indonesian Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers.