Head of the agency (BP3TKI) in Mataram Komang Subadra said here Tuesday the government imposed a moratorium on Indonesian informal migrant workers to Malaysia in view of the lack of protection.
"With the signing of the MoU between Indonesian Minister of Workers and Transmigration Muhaimin Iskandar and Malaysia`s Human Resources Dr S Shubramaniam, we will restore the chances of TKIs from West Nusa Tenggara to work in the formal sector in Malaysia," he said.
The signing of the MoU will be followed by the restoration of the sending of informal TKIs to Malaysia after it had been closed for almost two years.
The Workers and Transmigration Ministry will issue a ministerial decision on the minimum wages of TKIs to prevent it not to be less than the market price.
He also said that the interest of TKIs to work in the formal sector, especially as household main in Malaysia was relatively low, apparently following protection and minimum wages for those from West Nusa Tenggara to work in Malaysia.
"There are only a few TKIs from West Nusa Tenggara working in the formal sector in Malaysia compared to in Saudi Arabia and in other countries in the Middle East. In the January-April 2011 period they total 5,595," he said.
In 2011 the number of TKIs from West Nusa Tenggara working abroad reached 56,160, those working in oil palm estates in West Malaysia 38,139, or 67.92 pct, and in Saudi Arabia 15,666, or 27.90 pct.
The remaining 2,345 work in 14 other countries, like the United Arab Emirates 653, Oman 359, Jordan 243, East Malaysia 178, and in Qatar 162. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
