National News - September 03, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno said Indonesia would cancel an agreement with the Malaysian government that allows Malaysian employers to keep the passports of Indonesian migrant workers.
"We will seek the cancellation (of the agreement) during a meeting with the Malaysian government later this month," Ermain said Saturday, as quoted by Antara.
"The agreement violates workers' rights and International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions."
Erman said his ministry had received reports of Indonesian workers being extorted by Malaysian security officers because they were not carrying their passports.
The agreement has also been criticized by the ILO, which says that migrant workers have the right to keep their passports. -- JP
