---
title: "Working in Malaysia from Indonesia: Legal Routes and Wages"
description: "Legal routes for Indonesians in Malaysia: the PLKS permit for plantations, factories, construction and services, domestic work, and the minimum wage."
lang: en
canonical: "https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/"
datePublished: "2026-10-07"
dateModified: "2026-10-08"
sources:
  - "https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/pass/visitor-pass/visitors-pass-temporary-employment/"
  - "https://www.jtkswk.gov.my/v2/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/RISALAH-PERINTAH-GAJI-MINIMUM-2024.pdf"
  - "https://berita.rtm.gov.my/nasional/senarai-berita-nasional/senarai-artikel/perintah-gaji-minimum-rm1,700-berkuat-kuasa-1-ogos/"
  - "https://www.setneg.go.id/baca/index/indonesia_malaysia_sepakati_mou_perlindungan_pekerja_migran_indonesia_di_malaysia"
  - "https://kp2mi.go.id/berita-detail/indonesia-malaysia-percepat-pembaruan-mou-pekerja-migran-dorong-tata-kelola-digital-terpusat"
  - "https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf"
---

> Markdown version of https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/. Cite that HTML page and its update date.

# Working in Malaysia through legal routes

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by [Kaiser Khan](https://kariraman.com/en/authors/kaiser-khan/) (editor), 8 October 2026 Updated 8 October 2026

Legal routes for Indonesians in Malaysia: the PLKS permit for plantations, factories, construction and services, domestic work, and the minimum wage.

Indonesia and Malaysia are renewing the migrant worker placement MoU that ends in early 2027. New rules apply only once a new MoU is signed; until then, the current rules apply.

## Summary

- Foreign workers in Malaysia work on a Visitor's Pass (Temporary Employment), known as PLKS, in manufacturing, plantation, agriculture, construction and services.
- The 2022 MoU on Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia sets a single-channel system (One Channel System) for placement.
- Malaysia's minimum wage covers foreign workers: from 1 February 2025 at employers with five or more workers, from 1 August 2025 at all employers; not domestic workers.
- The placement MoU signed in 2004 ends in early 2027, and both countries aim to sign a new MoU in 2026.

## Which legal work routes exist for Malaysia?

- **Routes we cover:** 2
- **Routes marked Open:** 2
- **Status last checked:** 7 October 2026

**Summary of legal work routes to Malaysia**

| Route | Status | Age | Language tests | Who pays placement costs |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Domestic worker through the One Channel System](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/domestic-worker/) | Open<br>Status as of 7 October 2026 | 21 to 45 years | Not stated | The employer (through a P3MI) |
| [Formal-sector worker on a PLKS](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/formal-sector/) | Open<br>Status as of 7 October 2026 | 18 to 40 years | Not stated | The employer (through a P3MI) |

[Compare with other routes to work abroad](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/compare/#malaysia-domestic-worker)

- [Open **Domestic worker through the One Channel System** Open through licensed P3MI agencies. The 2022 MoU sets a one channel system for domestic placements, and Malaysian Immigration lists Indonesia as an approved source country. Status as of 7 October 2026](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/domestic-worker/)
- [Open **Formal-sector worker on a PLKS** Open through licensed P3MI agencies for manufacturing, plantation, agriculture, construction and services. The 2004 placement MoU ends in early 2027 and is being renewed. Status as of 7 October 2026](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/formal-sector/)

## What does the proposed new Indonesia-Malaysia MoU contain?

On 6 October 2026 Indonesia's migrant worker protection minister and Malaysia's human resources minister discussed renewing the MoU signed in 2004. According to KP2MI, Malaysia's first draft contains several proposals. All of them are proposals and are not yet in force.

- Mandatory PERKESO (SOCSO) coverage for all Indonesian migrant workers, with 24-hour protection including travel to and from work.
- Raising the maximum age of new Indonesian migrant workers from 40 to 45.
- Recruitment through Malaysia's central digital system, the Foreign Worker Centralized Management System (FWCMS), while Indonesia builds its own integrated app.
- Talks on leave rights, government-to-government and registered-agency placement, and a cost structure that does not burden the workers.

## What is the minimum wage in Malaysia?

Malaysia's Minimum Wages Order 2024 took effect in two stages. From 1 February 2025, employers with five or more workers, and employers in a professional activity whatever their size, must pay the new minimum wage. Employers with fewer than five workers followed from 1 August 2025. According to Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources, the order covers foreign workers, but it does not apply to domestic workers. The minimum wage is the basic wage, excluding allowances and overtime.

**Malaysia national minimum wage**

| Area or group | Official floor | Approximate rupiah value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Malaysia: national minimum wage<br>Applies to: Minimum monthly basic wage, foreign workers included: from 1 February 2025 for employers with five or more workers and MASCO professional-activity employers, from 1 August 2025 for employers with fewer than five workers<br>Excludes: Domestic workers | MYR 1,700.00<br>per month<br>In force from 1 February 2025 | about IDR 7,434,542<br>rate as of 8 October 2026 |

[Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak, Kementerian Sumber Manusia Malaysia](https://www.jtkswk.gov.my/v2/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/RISALAH-PERINTAH-GAJI-MINIMUM-2024.pdf) 8 October 2026 [Radio Televisyen Malaysia (Portal Berita RTM), quoting Kementerian Sumber Manusia Malaysia](https://berita.rtm.gov.my/nasional/senarai-berita-nasional/senarai-artikel/perintah-gaji-minimum-rm1,700-berkuat-kuasa-1-ogos/) (official statement via media) 7 October 2026

## Why are informal routes to Malaysia risky?

The employer, not the worker, applies for a Malaysian work pass, and the worker may enter only after it is approved. Workers who enter without one have no lawful work status. Indonesian Law 18/2017 Article 69 also bans individuals from placing migrant workers, so a private recruiter promising work in Malaysia without a licensed P3MI is breaking the law.

## Which official channels can you contact?

- **Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)** Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection [0800-1000](tel:08001000) [+62-21-29244800](tel:+622129244800) [WhatsApp 0811-8080-141](https://wa.me/628118080141) [kp2mi.go.id](https://kp2mi.go.id/)
- **Licensed agency (P3MI) list on SISKOP2MI** Check a licensed migrant-worker placement agency and its status [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi)
- **Official overseas job orders on SISKOP2MI** Official job orders for migrant workers [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/lowongan/list)
- **Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)** Help for Indonesian citizens in trouble or danger abroad [+62-812-9007-0027](tel:+6281290070027) [WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027](https://wa.me/6281290070027) [peduliwni.kemlu.go.id](https://peduliwni.kemlu.go.id/beranda.html)

## Frequently asked questions

**Can I enter Malaysia as a tourist and look for work there?**

No. According to Malaysian Immigration, foreign workers must stay outside Malaysia while the application is processed and may enter only after the Visa With Reference (VDR) and the Visitor's Pass (Temporary Employment) are approved. Workers from Indonesia get the visa at a Malaysian mission in Indonesia.

**How long can Indonesians work in Malaysia?**

Malaysian Immigration limits foreign workers on a PLKS to a total of five years. Workers may not bring family and may not change jobs or employers without permission from Malaysia's Home Ministry. On age, KP2MI says the current maximum for new Indonesian migrant workers is 40; Malaysia has proposed 45 in the new MoU.

**What is the age limit for working in Malaysia?**

Age limits differ by legal route: Domestic worker through the One Channel System: 21 to 45 years; Formal-sector worker on a PLKS: 18 to 40 years. Check the route page again before you apply.

**Which visa do you need to work in Malaysia?**

The legal routes to Malaysia use these visas or permits: Domestic worker through the One Channel System: Pas Lawatan (Kerja Sementara); Formal-sector worker on a PLKS: Pas Lawatan (Kerja Sementara). Apply only through the destination government's official website or its mission.

**What is the minimum wage for working in Malaysia?**

The official pay floor for the Formal-sector worker on a PLKS route in Malaysia is MYR 1,700.00 per month, in force from 1 February 2025 (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak, Kementerian Sumber Manusia Malaysia). This is the legal minimum in Malaysia, not an offered wage.

## Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published 7 October 2026 Updated 8 October 2026

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: 8 October 2026.

## Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

1. [Visitor's Pass (Temporary Employment)](https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/pass/visitor-pass/visitors-pass-temporary-employment/) Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia) · accessed 7 October 2026
2. [Risalah Perintah Gaji Minimum 2024 (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak, Kementerian Sumber Manusia)](https://www.jtkswk.gov.my/v2/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/RISALAH-PERINTAH-GAJI-MINIMUM-2024.pdf) Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak, Kementerian Sumber Manusia Malaysia · Perintah Gaji Minimum 2024, P.U. (A) 376/2024 · accessed 8 October 2026
3. [Perintah Gaji Minimum berkuat kuasa sepenuhnya 1 Ogos 2025 (kenyataan KESUMA, laporan RTM)](https://berita.rtm.gov.my/nasional/senarai-berita-nasional/senarai-artikel/perintah-gaji-minimum-rm1,700-berkuat-kuasa-1-ogos/) Radio Televisyen Malaysia (Portal Berita RTM), quoting Kementerian Sumber Manusia Malaysia · official statement via media · accessed 7 October 2026
4. [Indonesia-Malaysia sepakati MoU perlindungan pekerja migran Indonesia di Malaysia](https://www.setneg.go.id/baca/index/indonesia_malaysia_sepakati_mou_perlindungan_pekerja_migran_indonesia_di_malaysia) Kementerian Sekretariat Negara RI · accessed 7 October 2026
5. [Indonesia-Malaysia percepat pembaruan MoU pekerja migran, dorong tata kelola digital terpusat](https://kp2mi.go.id/berita-detail/indonesia-malaysia-percepat-pembaruan-mou-pekerja-migran-dorong-tata-kelola-digital-terpusat) Kementerian Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (KP2MI) · accessed 7 October 2026
6. [Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia](https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed 7 October 2026

**How to cite**

KarirAman (2026). Working in Malaysia through legal routes. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/

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- [Panduan Warga passport guide](https://panduanwarga.org/en/guides/indonesian-passport-m-paspor/)
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CariTalent and PanduanHewan are Kode Nirlaba projects; Panduan Warga and The Cast Index are independent publications with the same founder. CourseToJob is a study-guide site with the same owner, run by Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd.

**Change log**

- 8 October 2026 : Corrected the Malaysian minimum wage dates: in force from 1 February 2025 for employers with five or more workers and from 1 August 2025 for smaller employers.