"Indonesia will ask Malaysia to extend the rehiring program and to stop a crackdown (on illegal migrant workers). (The move is necessary) in view of the large number of illegal migrant workers in Malaysia, including those from Indonesia. If the program is extended, coupled with easy and cheap voluntary repatriation program, then many (illegal migrant workers) will join it," Indonesian Manpower Minister M Hanif Dhakiri said at the Manpower Ministry here, Thursday.
The rehiring program ended with a massive crackdown on illegal migrant workers employed in Malaysia.
Dhakiri remarked the rehiring program, which was started with the registration of illegal migrant workers to secure E-Kad (Enforcement Card) from February 15 to June 30, 2017, was too short. As a result, the participation of illegal migrant workers in the program was not optimum.
The Manpower Ministry will soon send a team of officers to Kuala Lumpur to discuss Indonesias request for the extension of the rehiring program at an informal meeting.
The informal meeting will be a starting point before the two countries hold an official meeting to discuss a wide range of issues, including a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the placement and protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.
The minister revealed he would attend the meeting to settle problems faced by an estimated 1.3 million Indonesian illegal migrant workers in Malaysia.
On Thursday, the Manpower Ministry, along with 22 provincial and district manpower offices, held a meeting in Jakarta to discuss efforts to handle problematic Indonesian workers in Malaysia.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
