Indonesia plantation workers barred from departing to Malaysia over visas

Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, had been set to welcome the first batch of workers since opening borders. - Starpic

JAKARTA (Reuters): Indonesia barred a group of its plantation workers from travelling to Malaysia because recruiters did not follow proper procedures and most of the workers did not have the right visa, the head of the country's migrant worker protection agency said.

Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer behind Indonesia, had been set to welcome the first major batch of migrant workers since reopening borders in a boost for a sector facing a shortage of more than 100,000 workers.