SOLO, Central Java: Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo wants women to stop working as domestic helpers abroad, Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.

"The practice of Indonesian women going overseas to work as housemaids must stop immediately; we should have some self-esteem and dignity," Joko said at the People's Conscious Party's second national congress on Friday.

"I have asked the Manpower minister to formulate a road map to ensure that we stop sending domestic workers abroad," he said.

During his recent tour of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines, Joko said it was found that some 2.3 million Indonesian migrant workers were living in these countries.

Around 1.2 million of the workers have illegal status and are considered "problematic workers".

"About 1,800 of them have been rescued, 800 have been picked up by Hercules (aircraft) and we will pick up more soon. I am sure the numbers will continue to grow as we encounter problems in dealing with this issue," Joko said. - Bernama