SIBU: The governments of Sarawak and Indonesia will come up with a new standard operating procedure for the intake of foreign workers under the new normal.

       Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia (Kuching) Yonny Tri Prayitno said this on Monday (Sept 6) after a courtesy call to Sibu OCPD Asst Comm Stanley Jonathan Ringgit.

       Yonny said the new SOP, once ready, would apply to Indonesians who work in the plantation, construction and manufacturing sectors.

       "We understand that Sarawak needs more workers in these sectors.

       "Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, about 65,000 Indonesian workers or 40% to 50% of them have returned home," he said.

       He also said before the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 140,000 Indonesians were registered as working in Sarawak.

       On Covid-19 vaccinations, he said about 90% of Indonesian workers in Sarawak, mostly plantation workers, have been vaccinated by Malaysia's Health Ministry.

       "Cooperation between authorities such as the police here is important so that Indonesian workers are more disciplined and always adhere to SOP," he added.

       The meeting with ACP Stanley, he said, was to discuss cooperation to stop the spread of Covid-19 among Indonesian foreign workers and the local community.