Govt decision on labor export criticized<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives has criticized the
\ngovernment's decision to temporarily stop labor exports to Saudi
\nArabia, saying this policy was not helpful for the national
\nemployment program at a time of alarming levels of unemployment.<\/p>\n
Ismoe Handoko, a legislator of the ruling Golkar faction in
\nthe Commission in charge of labor, among other things, said
\nFriday the decision, announced unexpectedly on Feb. 1, would be
\ndevastating to labor as well as to diplomatic ties between the
\ntwo countries.<\/p>\n
\"We do not understand why the government has made such a
\ncontroversial policy,\" given massive dismissals and a high
\nunemployment rate, he told a hearing with the Association of
\nIndonesian Labor Export Companies (Apjati).<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Manpower has temporarily barred labor export
\ncompanies from recruiting and sending workers to Saudi Arabia in
\nresponse to the latter's refusal to comply with Indonesia's new
\nruling on work contracts.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has required Saudi Arabian users and labor agencies
\nto get endorsement of work contracts from the Indonesian Embassy
\nin Riyadh before workers leave Indonesia in an effort to provide
\nstrong protection for the migrants.<\/p>\n
The government made the decision in response to protests at
\ncases of torture, rape and underpayment of Indonesian workers in
\nthat country.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia, which considered the Indonesian regulation an
\nintervention in its internal affairs, has refused to comply with
\nit because several users and labor agencies, living far from the
\nIndonesian Embassy, have to make long trips.<\/p>\n
Ismoe said labor export was the only alternative to domestic
\nunemployment.<\/p>\n
\"Unemployment is expected to reach between 35 million and 40
\nmillion this April as there are no indications of economic
\nrecovery in the near future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Djusril Djusan of Golkar warned many would seek work by
\nillegal means as a result of banning work overseas. Workers would
\nthen be even more vulnerable to abuse, he said.<\/p>\n
He added that in 1996 around 24,000 Indonesian workers were
\ndeported by Saudi Arabia for abusing the pilgrimage (haj)
\npassport in order to work there.<\/p>\n
Apjati Deputy Chairman Abdullah Umar said tens of thousands of
\nworkers have been stranded in the dormitories of labor supply
\nfirms over the last two months due to the new policy, causing
\nhuge losses to the companies.<\/p>\n
\"Departures for at least 40,000 workers who have been supplied
\nwith the required documents to leave for Saudi Arabia have been
\nsuspended,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Dozens of companies have lodged complaints with Apjati to
\nprotest the delayed departures.<\/p>\n
He blamed lack of protection for workers on the absence of
\nbilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
\"Right up until the present the two countries have had no
\nagreement or an MOU on protection of Indonesian workers in the
\ncountry since Indonesian workers employed as domestic helpers in
\nfamilies in that country are not covered by its labor law,\" he
\nsaid, citing the fact that the Indonesian workers were under the
\njurisdiction of Saudi Arabia's interior ministry. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-decision-on-labor-export-criticized-1447893297",
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