15 companies get permits to supply workers abroad<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief yesterday
\ngranted 15 more companies licenses to export workers, bringing
\nthe total of licensed firms to 29 since he compelled some 300
\ncompanies to re-register last year.<\/p>\n
Although the pressure was mounting on the government to
\nlicense more given the potential foreign exchange earnings from
\nsending workers abroad, Latief yesterday said that he would
\nremain cautious in issuing licenses.<\/p>\n
The Ministry, he disclosed, has received 165 applications for
\nnew licenses, but most of them have been turned down because they
\nfailed to meet the government requirements.<\/p>\n
Latief last year tightened the regulations governing the
\nsending of workers overseas, a lucrative business but one that
\nwas beset by mismanagement resulting in thousands of workers
\nbeing stranded overseas.<\/p>\n
One requirement sets a company's level of minimum paid up
\ncapital higher and another compels companies to provide their own
\ntraining facilities for the workers to be sent abroad.<\/p>\n
Latief said the government will be very selective in issuing
\nnew licenses since this program deals with human beings.
\n"Besides the minimum capital requirement and training facilities,
\nthese companies must apply modern management in their operation."<\/p>\n
He added that the aim of these regulations is to protect the
\nworkers from being abused by the companies or by their employers
\noverseas.<\/p>\n
Latief yesterday had more bad news for those companies waiting
\nfor their licenses: That they can no longer send workers abroad
\nwhile waiting for the issuance of the licenses. Up until now the
\ncompanies hadn't suspended their services.<\/p>\n
"Companies which are still sending workers abroad will
\njeopardize their license applications," he told reporters
\nyesterday during the ceremony to hand over the 15 new licenses.<\/p>\n
"We'll make no more allowances," he said referring to the fact
\nthat some 170 companies had been allowed to send workers while
\nwaiting for their licenses.<\/p>\n
A senior ministry official said the government has already
\nsent a circular to these companies ordering them to stop sending
\nworkers abroad until after they receive their new licenses.<\/p>\n
The government earlier estimated that Indonesia needs at least
\n300 manpower supplier companies to be able to export some 1.25
\nmillion workers in the next five years. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/15-companies-get-permits-to-supply-workers-abroad-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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