Camelia Pasandaran – Indonesia says it will resume sending migrant workers to Malaysia after it implemented a ban in June 2009 because of a spate of shocking abuse cases and the general lack of laws protecting the human rights of the workers.

Speaking at the Presidential Office on Monday, Muhaimin Iskandar, minister of manpower and transmigration, said the Indonesian and Malaysian governments would sign a memorandum of understanding next month. "After it is signed, we'll allow workers to work [in Malaysia] again."

Muhaimin said one of the main points was that workers, known as TKI, were now entitled to a day off, otherwise employers would have to double the workers' salaries.

"Secondly, the passport should be kept by the workers themselves," he said. "Thirdly, problems should be handled by a joint task force, with both countries cooperating, to solve the matters quickly."

He said that since the Indonesia imposed the moratorium, the country had "drastically reduced" the number of illegal Indonesian migrant workers entering Malaysia.