Indonesian Gov't Asked to Ban Sending of Workers to Malaysia

Antara News
Thursday, February 3, 2005

JAKARTA, Feb 3 Asia Pulse/Antara - The Commission IX of the House of Representatives asked the government to ban the sending of workers to Malaysia if that neighboring country fails to observe human rights in treating illegal migrant workers from Indonesia.

Malaysia has threatened to punish before driving out of that country hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants workers mostly from Indonesia.

Mohammad Fauzi ,a commission member, said Indonesian workers have had their share in developing Malaysian economy pointing out many Indonesians work in plantations and construction projects in that country.

Fauzi said in the case of illegal workers, the Malaysian government should not put all the blame on the workers as their employers are also wrong in employing illegal migrants.

A Malaysian immigration law said that employers of illegal migrant workers are punishable for 12 months in jail and a fine up to 50,000 Malaysian ringgits, Fauzie said in a hearing with the labor minister on Wednesday.