Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) between the Indonesian and Saudi Arabian governments will hopefully reach a uniform perception between the two countries on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) in Arabian countries.

"The Indonesian manpower and transmigration minister earnestly wished the meeting would produce a uniform perception in the corridor of the TKI protection and solution to various problems of manpower problems in Saudi Arabia," chief spokesman for the manpower and transmigration ministry Suhartono said in a press release here on Thursday.

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar he added hoped the bilateral meeting would increase the quality of the services, placement and protection of the TKIs in Saudi Arabia.

It was planned that the meeting between the Indonesian and Saudi government would be held in Jidda on May 28 and 29, 2011.

Head of the TKI placement and protection national agency (BNP2TKI) Moh Jumhur Hidayat who led the Indonesian delegation while the Saudi government delegation by Manpower Minister Adel Mohammad Fakeih.

The meeting was a follow up of the bilateral meeting between the manpower ministers of the two countries held by the end of last year.

"The Indonesian manpower and transmigration minister has given a directive to the delegation members to make a joint commitment to increase the services, placement and protection of TKIs and strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries," Suhartono said.

The subjects to be discussed in the meeting include improving the employment contracts, supervision and control of TKI`s wishes, complete information on the employers, better access to communication for the TKIs, and insurance protection of TKIs.

"The Indonesian delegation will also explain that the Indonesian government has improved domestic TKI placement and protection by improving the mechanism and papers on their departure," Suhartono said.

Members of the Indonesian delegation included Protocol and Consular Affairs Director General of the Foreign Ministry Lutfi Rauf, official in charge of the manpower and transmigration ministry Reyna Usman, Protection of Indonesians and Legal Aid Director General Tatang B. Razak, Protection Deputy of BNP2TKI Lisna Yoeliani Poeloengan, and several officials of the three institutions. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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