Indonesia Wants Malaysia to Honor Deal on Migrant Workers: Ambassador

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is still waiting for a proposed solution from Malaysia regarding the recruitment system of Indonesian migrant workers. “[We’re] still waiting for their proposal,” said the Indonesian Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, Hermono, to Tempo on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

Indonesia temporarily suspended sending workers to Kuala Lumpur after the neighboring country did not implement the MoU on the recruitment of maids agreed in April 2022 by applying its maid online system while the pact clearly stated the mandatory use of the One Channel System as the only legal route.

The Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Judha Nugraha, told Tempo via a short message that there has been no official discussion between Indonesia and Malaysia regarding the MoU.

Previously, as quoted from Antara on Monday, Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin said his side planned to hold talks regarding the issue with Indonesia.

One day before the meeting of Malaysian ministers on Monday, Hermono asserted Indonesia's stance.

“Our position is simple and clear; we just want Malaysia to honor the MoU,” he said referring to the MoU inked by the Indonesian Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah and her Malaysian counterpart M Saravanan which was witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo on April 1.

ANTARA | FREE MALAYSIA TODAY

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