TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Migrant workers from Indonesia (TKI) who are working in Malaysia without legality are urged to go back home, so they will not get be arrested by the Malaysian authorities who are conducting massive raids against illegal workers.
Maruli Hasoloan, the Labor Ministry's director general of manpower placement and employment opportunity, said the return of illegal migrant workers will be facilitated by the government.
"We will coordinate their repatriation technically," he said in Jakarta yesterday, July 4.
Read: Malaysia Arrests 200 Undocumented Indonesian Migrant Workers
To avoid raids, illegal workers are likely to enter the 'rat run' to return to Indonesia, both by land and sea. The government will welcome their return at areas suspected to be a return path for illegal migrant workers near the Indonesia-Malaysia border.
Maruli said the TKI will not be picked up in Malaysia, as it is both costly fees and will be a bad precedent.
The massive raid by Malaysia's government began after the Enforcement Card (E-Kad) program organized by Malaysian Immigration, which started from February to June 30.
Of the approximately 1.5 million illegal migrant workers there, only about 22,000 registered with the E-Kad. Since July 1st, the Malaysian Police and immigration authorities have arrested 195 migrant workers who are currently detained in immigration camps.
RIYAN NOFITRA | INDRI MAULIDAR