Indonesia Will Totally Halt Sending Domestic Workers: President

Ambon, Maluku, May 8 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo affirmed that Indonesia will totally stop sending domestic workers to all countries within the next two to three years. "I have said that the process of sending Indonesians working in informal sectors, particularly those employed as domestic workers, must be terminated in stages," he remarked while declaring Sofifi as the capital city of North Maluku Province on Friday. The fact that several Indonesian migrant workers were on death row had been taken into consideration by the government, he revealed. "I cannot imagine that we send our women abroad. We then receive a list of 260 people who are undergoing legal process," he said, adding that creating wider job markets in Indonesia will prevent Indonesians from seeking jobs in other countries. According to the president, the Indonesian Government has recently stopped sending maids to the Middle Eastern countries. This policy should be supported by all governmental institutions in Jakarta and all provinces. However, the head of state appealed to the central and regional governments to create new job markets for the people in order to keep the unemployment rate in check. "I have a message to the workforce and transmigration office. Please, do not encourage our people to work abroad as migrant workers," he added.