Govt to be firm on labor export permits<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Manpower, facing a number of
\nlawsuits, has vowed to maintain strict rules for issuing permits
\nto labor export companies.<\/p>\n
Spokesman Soetanto said yesterday that although a number of
\ncompanies, whose applications for permits were rejected, have
\nfiled lawsuits against it, the ministry will stand by its
\ndecisions.<\/p>\n
He denied the labor export companies' allegation that the
\noffice makes its decision according whether it likes the
\nbusinessmen or the companies.<\/p>\n
"There is no such thing as like or dislike when we decide
\nwhether to issue or withhold permits," Soetanto told reporters.
\n"Any applications which do not meet all requirements will be
\nrejected," he said.<\/p>\n
The companies filed the lawsuits with the Jakarta
\nAdministrative Court between March and September. Several of the
\nlawsuits had been turned down because they failed to meet the
\ncourt's administrative procedures.<\/p>\n
An unspecified number of companies have withdrawn their
\nlawsuits after learning they lacked legal grounds for their
\naction. Among the companies were PT Farhana Amin Setia, PT Bina
\nSetia Corporation, PT Ainul Asep Abadi and PT Boner Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Soetanto also dismissed the suggestion that his office had
\ntried to influence the court regarding the lawsuits.<\/p>\n
"The minister of manpower will not do such a thing. Far from
\nit. The ministry will comply with any decisions the court takes,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Soetanto said the ministry would be consistent with existing
\nlegislation in handling applications from companies who wish to
\nexport Indonesian workers. The office also used the services of
\npublic accountants and management experts in processing the
\napplications, he said.<\/p>\n
"Please remember, the tightening of labor export procedure is
\na way to protect our workers abroad, and to improve the labor
\nexport companies' professionalism as well," he said. "We are
\ntalking about exporting not goods but human beings."<\/p>\n
Out of the existing 300 labor export companies, only 72 have
\nsecured new licenses recently. The remaining are no longer
\nallowed to send workers abroad.<\/p>\n
Soetanto told the companies which have failed to secure new
\npermits to comply with the various requirements stipulated in two
\nministerial decrees issued last year.<\/p>\n
"In addition to some administrative requirements, the decrees
\nstipulate that all labor export companies have a total asset of
\nat least Rp 450 million in cash and a training center," he said.<\/p>\n
Soetanto pointed out that the ministry, when processing
\napplications, also take into consideration a host of other
\nfactors.<\/p>\n
"No permit will be issued for companies with a poor record,
\nsuch as those which have been found to have supplied workers for
\nprostitution abroad," he said.<\/p>\n
The government is intensifying the labor export program to
\nhelp ease unemployment here.<\/p>\n
It plans to export around 250,000 workers annually during the
\ncurrent sixth Five-year Development Plan, which started last
\nyear, with a total of US$60 billion in remittances. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-be-firm-on-labor-export-permits-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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