VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government has continued discussions centering on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysia regarding the employment and protection of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI).

After meeting Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Saravanan Murugan at the Manpower Ministry's Office here on Tuesday, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah confirmed that the technical team from both countries will resume the discussion on the MoU in Jakarta, December 14, 2021.

"The negotiation process of the MoU on the employment and protection of Indonesian domestic workers is a commitment of both countries in protecting Indonesian migrants' rights and welfare, especially in the domestic sector," Fauziyah explained.

According to the minister, the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia will be conducted after the MoU discussion is completed.

"We agree to complete the MoU first and then we will open the PMI employment in Malaysia," she remarked.

She pointed out that the step to complete the MoU first before opening the job placement aligns with the directive of President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Fauziyah noted that Indonesia and Malaysia had agreed on the implementation of a one-channel system for PMI employment in Malaysia.

The application of the one-channel system that integrates all employment processes, starting from recruitment, preparation, departure, and placement to repatriation aims to reduce the recruitment costs as well as to ease both nations' surveillance of the process.

In addition, the one-channel system is expected to thwart the entry of PMI into Malaysia that are not based on the procedure.

At the meeting, both ministers reached an agreement that PMI can work for a maximum of six family members. Moreover, the job placement for babysitters and caretakers will be regulated specifically, including the level of competency and salary. (Antaranews)