The head of the National Agency for the Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat said the moratorium on sending Indonesian workers to Malaysia would soon be lifted.
"Have a little patience because it is in the process of being finalized. "Hopefully, in the not too distant future it can be resolved and the sending of TKI to Malaysia can be reopened," he said in Kupang, Saturday, when asked how far the process of completing the temporary termination of sending TKI to Malaysia was going.
The sending of domestic workers (PLRT) to Malaysia since 25 June 2009 has been temporarily suspended, given the number of cases of violence and the lack of protection for Indonesian workers in Malaysia.
The Indonesian government, he said, is ready to lift the moratorium on sending TKI to Malaysia if the Malaysian Government agrees to improve the protection and quality of welfare for TKI.
He said the negotiation process was continuing to discuss the issue of improving the protection and working conditions of Indonesian workers in the PLRT sector. The Malaysian government is expected to immediately evaluate and improve the mechanisms, working conditions and protection of Indonesian workers.
"Hopefully there will soon be an agreement on the side of the TKI and in the not too distant future the moratorium on sending TKI can be lifted so that the sending of TKI, especially PLRT can be done," he said.
The temporary suspension of sending Indonesian migrant workers to Malaysia has resulted in huge losses for labor recruitment companies, especially those operating in East Nusa Tenggara.
This is because a large number of workers who have been recruited at very high costs have not been able to go to Malaysia because there is no agreement between the Malaysian government and Indonesia regarding security guarantees for Indonesian migrant workers working in that country.
During their stay in the holding center, the company must pay for their living needs and it does not cost the company a small amount.
Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat added that during the temporary suspension, companies should not recruit and train workers to be employed in the destination country of Malaysia because of course it will have an impact on losses.
However, he believes, in the not too distant future, the moratorium can be lifted and the sending of TKI who work as domestic help can be done. (Republika)
