Every year more than 2.5 million workers in Asia leave their countries to work in other countries, according to statistics.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Bangladesh have agreed to cooperate in the protection of their migrant workers as fellow members of the Colombo Process.
"Countries sending migrant workers grouped in the Colombo Process wish to be treated equally and a level playing field with regard to workers` rights and obligations with receiving countries so that protection of workers is better guaranteed," Indonesian Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said here on Friday.
Muhaimin had held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Khandker Mosharraf Hossein at his office on Friday evening to discuss the condition of workers in their respective countries.
Indonesia and Bangladesh are both members of the Colombo Process which is a regional unbinding consultative forum of Asian manpower ministers.
Other members include Afghanistan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
"At the meeting, the two countries agreed to cooperate to mobilize the solidarity of countries sending migrant workers to increase the protection and prevention of illegal practices during recruitment and placement processing," Muhaimin said.
He said they were now trying to establish a Migrant Resource Center in a Middle Eastern country and to set up and operate a Migrant Workers` Fund as part of efforts to improve workers` protection.
"Countries that send workers are expected to be able to increase cooperation in the training and improvement of workers` skills and in remittance service and exchange of manpower information," he said.
Every year more than 2.5 million workers in Asia leave their countries to work in other countries, according to statistics.
Most of the migrant workers work in the Middle East in the service, trade and construction sectors.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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