Asia Live Headlines

Friday, June 22, 2007

Indonesia, Malaysia to revise labor agreement

Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to revise the memorandum of understanding on alien workers after an Indonesian maid escaped from the 15th floor of her abusive employer last week, local press said Friday.

"Malaysia has agreed to review the MoU and honor us by arranging the meeting in Indonesia," Indonesian Minister for Manpower and Transmigration Erman Suparno was quoted by most influential newspaper Kompas as saying.

The two countries will appoint a committee to revise the articles aiming to ensure better working conditions for Indonesian workers in Malaysia, he said.

The minister pointed to an article that allows employer to hold passports of Indonesian workers in the informal sector, placing the workers in vulnerable position and at the risk of detention during anti-illegal immigrant raids.

"Malaysia also agrees to use the Ceriyati case as a momentum for changes," he said, referring to the 34-year-old maid who climbed down the Malaysian apartment using a makeshift rope before she was finally rescued by firemen.

According to the data from his office, Indonesia exported 3.9 million workers, with 1.2 million going to neighboring Malaysia.

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