Call to stop sending unskilled workers abroad gains support<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Labor Export
\nCompanies (Apjati) supported yesterday legislators' call for the
\ngovernment to stop sending unskilled workers abroad.<\/p>\n
Abdullah Puteh, chairman of the organization, said in a
\nhearing with House Commission V for manpower here yesterday that
\nhis organization also asked the government to seek alternatives
\nto the export of unskilled workers.<\/p>\n
\"If you asked us to stop sending (unskilled workers abroad),
\nfrankly we agree. But what are the alternatives?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
\"If Apjati stopped sending, say, over 10,000 domestic helpers
\nper month, is there any guarantee that they would not go abroad
\nthemselves illegally?<\/p>\n
\"We challenge you, legislators, on what must be stipulated in
\nthe next State Policy Guidelines so we can stop (sending
\nunskilled workers abroad),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Among the legislators who called for the phasing out of
\nunskilled workers being sent abroad was Priyo Budi Santoso from
\nthe Golkar faction.<\/p>\n
\"In my opinion, the (practice) of sending women to work as
\ndomestic helpers abroad must be stopped,\" Priyo told The Jakarta
\nPost after the hearing yesterday. He suggested, instead, that
\nskilled workers such as nurses be sent abroad.<\/p>\n
\"We had asked the Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief to review
\n(the ministry's policy on the export of domestic helpers) but we
\nhave yet to reach a similar view on this matter,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Migrant workers reportedly contribute more than US$3.5 billion
\nto the country annually.<\/p>\n
Apjati data shows that 951,585 Indonesian workers have been
\nlegally sent to countries in the Asia Pacific, United States,
\nEurope, Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, the Indonesia Lapera Association, a non-
\ngovernmental organization for workers' welfare, protested
\nyesterday Central Java Governor Suwardi's refusal to increase
\nregional minimum wages.<\/p>\n
\"The fact is the workers are still in a weak position, and
\nsome fundamental changes should be made,\" said the chairman of
\nthe association, Dadang Juliantara.<\/p>\n
Governor Soewardi refused to increase the wages of workers in
\nCentral Java from Rp 113,000 a month this year to Rp 130,000 a
\nmonth next year, due to the monetary crisis.<\/p>\n
Dadang said the reason was cliche, as the government had set
\nan out-of-date yardstick with which to measure the workers' daily
\nneeds. (23\/09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/call-to-stop-sending-unskilled-workers-abroad-gains-support-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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