Indonesia, Taiwan deal on migrant worker agreement

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian government has put Taiwan and Hong Kong on the priority list of sending migrant workers after nearly four months of suspending it since the end of March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an Indonesian government official said recently.

Indonesian Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah said, the government had evaluated the continuation of sending migrant workers abroad, according to the Taiwan News Agency (CNA) report.

At present, the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration is in talks with Taiwan and Hong Kong about the plan.

The talks are the final stage aimed at ensuring that all parties are ready to reopen the sending of migrant workers at the most minimum possible risk of COVID-19 spreads, a ministry official said.

However, there has been no decision on when the suspension of sending migrant workers would be lifted, said the source.

The ministry has temporarily suspended the sending of migrant workers abroad on March 20 to curb the spreads of COVID-19.

All migrant workers, including those who work for foreign flag vessels, are prohibited from working abroad.

Reporting by Indonesia Window