Local govt to fund workers' return

PEKANBARU, Riau: In the future, local administrations will have to bear part of the cost of repatriating illegal workers deported by the Malaysian government.

The new scheme was formulated during a coordinating meeting here recently. Among those attending the meeting were Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Al Hilal Hamdi and Indonesia's Ambassador to Malaysia Hadi Wayarabi.

"We sat down together and formulated that the cost of repatriating laborers would be shouldered by the respective regions," Surjadi said as quoted by Antara.

Two methods were agreed to. For laborers deported by the Malaysian government directly to their hometowns, the cost will be covered by the respective local administration and the Malaysian government.

However, there was no specific breakdown of the percentage each side would have to bear. (mds)