Padang women fight way to Malaysia

Padang women fight way to Malaysia

PADANG, West Sumatra: Hundreds of Minangkabau women from West
Sumatra are seeking employment in Malaysia.

The head of the West Sumatra manpower ministry office, Masri
Rusli, said recently that the Minangkabau workers were mainly
interested in working in electronic factories in the neighboring
country.

"As many as 200 female workers were sent in the first quarter
of this year and have been employed in electronic factories while
hundreds of others are waiting for passports and working visas,"
he said as quoted by Antara.

He said that it was difficult for the younger generation in
the province to get jobs in West Sumatra.

"Many female workers from the province go to Malaysia to work
because they receive higher pay and other facilities such as
dormitories and transportation allowances," he said.

In anticipation of the increasing number of female workers
interested in going to Malaysia, he said that his office was
designing better programs in all of the province's training
centers. (rms)