Indonesia hopes Malaysia can issue RTK 2.0 SOP soonest

JAKARTA: Indonesia hopes that Malaysia can quickly issue a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the foreign worker recalibration programme (RTK) 2.0 announced on January 10.

Indonesian Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah said the SOP on RTK 2.0 will be a reference for illegal immigrants who have been working in Malaysia for a long time.

"The Indonesian government also still needs more detailed and clear information from the Malaysian government for the implementation of the programme," he said.

Ida Fauziah said this in a statement after receiving a visit from Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at her office, here, yesterday.

The two ministers discussed developments and sought solutions for problems related to the protection of Indonesian workers (TKI) in Malaysia, especially domestic servants.

The discussion also focused on matters related to the alignment of Malaysia's new policy regarding the Foreign Worker Employment Relaxation Plan, said Saifuddin in his official Facebook post.

He said Indonesia is the second largest source country that contributes migrant workers to Malaysia after Bangladesh, and plays a role in Malaysia's economic growth and development.

"I express my desire to renew Malaysia's commitment regarding the issue of the welfare and safety of foreign workers from Indonesia serving in Malaysia (who) are always protected and there is no compromise against any misconduct by the employer," he said.

The meeting between the two ministers was a follow-up to the meeting between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier this month.

In a short working visit to Indonesia, Saifuddin met with Indonesia's Minister of Law and Human Rights, Prof. Dr. Yasonna H. Laoly, and Indonesia's Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian.

-- BERNAMA