Indonesia to send 600,000 workers to Saudi Arabia

Indonesia plans to allow domestic workers to go to Saudi Arabia after a ten-year ban. The government is preparing to send about 600,000 workers, including 400,000 domestic helpers and 200,000 skilled laborers. A key agreement between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia is set to be signed later this month in Jeddah. Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding announced the news in Jakarta. He said the decision follows improvements in Saudi Arabia’s labor protection system. The first group of workers could arrive in Saudi Arabia as soon as June. The Indonesian government expects to earn around 31 trillion rupiah, or about $1.89 billion, from this program. However, human rights groups have raised concerns about the safety and rights of these migrant workers. The Indonesian government insists that stronger protections will be in place for those who go to Saudi Arabia.