VP wants more aid for migrant workers

NUSA DUA, Bali: Vice President Jusuf Kalla called on countries that export and import migrant workers to help the workers improve their skills.

Opening the third Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labor for Countries of Origin in Asia here on Wednesday, Kalla said countries should not treat migrant workers as disposable commodities.

Indonesian labor minister Fahmi Idris and counterparts from several Asian countries, as well as the director of the International Organization for Migration, Brunson McKinley, also attended the meeting.

Fahmi said participants of the meeting would discuss various issues concerning migrant workers, including improving their job skills. -- JP