An Indonesian labour organisation said at least 50,000 migrant workers have re-entered Malaysia to seek jobs without proper work permits because of ignorance over legal conditions for employment.

According to the Consortium for Indonesian Migrant Workers' Defence (Kopbumi), these workers are mainly those entering Sabah with social visit passes using new passports they obtained from Indonesian authorities.

"We estimated that 3,000 persons were returning everyday to Malaysia but only about 500 of them have proper job orders," said legal aid advisor to Kopbumi,Eddy Purwanto when contacted yesterday.

He said the social visit passes allowed Indonesian nationals to stay in Malaysia for up to a month but not to seek employment.