Indonesia Revokes Ban on Sending Migrant Workers to Malaysia (1 December 2011)

Indonesian government on Thursday revoked its ban on sending migrant workers to Malaysia.

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said the first migrant workers, known as TKI, would be able to depart in March.

He said placement agencies needed three months to prepare workers, including 200 hours of training, secure the required documentation and place them in jobs.

“At least 117 agencies are ready to manage the placement of migrant worker to work in the domestic sector in Malaysia,” he said.

“They have signed performance contracts to carry out points agreed in the memorandum of understanding for placement and protection of migrant workers between Indonesia and Malaysia.”

The moratorium on sending domestic workers to Malaysia was imposed in mid-2009 after multiple cases of physical abuse. Jakata Post