"Records made on Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) who overstayed in Saudi Arabia and have been returned to Indonesia show that about 30 percent of them came from umroh pilgrimage groups," Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said.
Based on the finding, the manpower ministry asked the ministry of religious affairs to tighten its control over umroh travel agencies.
"In order not to repeat this problem the manpower ministry and other relevant agencies will seriously tighten the mechanism in the sending of migrant workers, especially to the Middle East," the minister said.
Hundreds of Indonesian migrant workers are staying under several bridges in Saudi Arabia because they have no money to return home.
Up to March 2011, the government has repatriated 2,073 problematic Indonesian migrant workers (TKIs) or over-stayers through six repatriation batches from Saudi Arabia.
The government this year is planning to repatriate 25,000 Indonesian migrant workers/Indonesian nationals(TKIs/WNIs). It has an estimate that the repatriation would cost some Rp128 billion,
"The government will be selective in returning them from Saudi Arabia. We will priorize old and sick people and children," Muhaimin said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
