Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government is serious about tackling the problems of Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) abroad, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his state-of-the-nation address here on Tuesday.

"We certainly continue to struggle from the side of humanity and justice to ask for forgiveness and legal relief for them. Besides, the government has formed a task force which specifically carries out diplomatic missions and important legal efforts for the problems of Indonesian migrant workers," the president said.

Speaking before the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) plenary session in his state-of-the-nation address, the president said a number of legal cases are on the spotlight of wider community.

He said the cases included the recent execution of an Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

Considering a great number of Indonesian nationals working abroad, the president said not a few of them were involved in legal matters.

"A number of Indonesian citizens abroad who face the death penalty have obtained a pardon and commutation of punishment," the president said.

He added that supervision and preparation for private parties that send workers to work abroad would be tightly supervised, and to make sure that the migrant workers really understand and know the law and culture of the countries where they would like to work.

"In addition, the government will continue diplomacy and negotiations with other countries so through a right memorandum of understanding, the Indonesian migrant workers abroad will truly have legal protection," the president said.
(Uu.O001/H-NG/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011