APJATI: PLAN TO STOP WORKERS TO MALAYSIA NEED RECONSIDERATION

Jakarta, June 22 (ANTARA) - The Association of Indonesian Manpower Recruitment Companies (Apjati) has called on the government to conduct a deeper study before deciding to stop sending workers to Malaysia.

"The government must profoundly study the plan by considering various aspects involved," Apjati's vice chairman Rusdi Basalamah said here on Monday.

He said thousands of would-be workers were already holding visas and accommodated in centers ready for dispatch.

"It is not yet known if they will be part of the plan. It is hoped a further study will be held for the benefit of all parties," he said.

He said businessmen would comply if the government eventually decided to clamp temporary ban on dispatch of workers to Malaysia to protect workers.

However, he said, the government must also be serious about solving the problem of illegal Indonesian workers in Malaysia.

He said manpower recruitment companies had so far followed the existing regulations and laws but "illegal sending of workers continues and the number of such workers is quite big or almost equal the number of legal workers."
Rusdi said most Indonesian migrant workers were working in the Middle East region and Malaysia.

"Indonesian workers in Malaysia are found in both the formal and informal sectors including plantations," he said.

The government is considering to temporarily stop sending workers particularly in the informal sector to Malaysia following a recent case of torture involving an Indonesian housemaid.