Jakarta (ANTARA) - Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah and Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Monday discussed ways to resolve issues regarding the protection of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in Malaysia, especially PMIs working in the domestic sector.
"There are many things that must be discussed regarding the protection scheme for domestic sector PMI in Malaysia, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the placement and protection of domestic sector Indonesian migrant workers (MSP PMID) in Malaysia," Fauziyah said after receiving a courtesy call from Nasution here on Monday.
Fauziyah informed that she and Nasution had discussed the progress of the protection scheme after the 1st Joint Working Group (JWG) and the 2nd JWG held after the MSP PMID was inked.
There is a labor recalibration program (RTK) in Malaysia that aims to legalize illegal immigrants (PATI), she pointed out.
By participating in the RTK program, illegal immigrants can be hired by qualified employers, based on the conditions set by Malaysia's Home Ministry and Immigration Department.
The Malaysian government has launched version 2.0 of the RTK program, but the Indonesian government still needs more detailed and clear information regarding its implementation.
"We hope the SOPs (standard operating procedures) can be issued soon to be a reference to serving illegal immigrants who have been working in Malaysia," the Indonesian minister said.
The two countries have agreed to continue building good communication in the field of labor to create a mutually beneficial relationship.
"I believe, with the support of Dato' Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, cooperation between the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia, especially in the field of manpower, can produce more concrete solutions," Fauziyah said.
Meanwhile, Minister Nasution said that the meeting was a follow-up to the one between President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim some time ago.
Labor Recalibration 2.0 (RTK 2.0) will make it easier for PMIs who are already in Malaysia to find a qualified employer to continue their employment, he added.
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