Govt warns against abuses in labor export<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief warned labor
\nexport companies against committing any more violations,
\nannouncing stiffer measures in response to abuses.<\/p>\n
In a ceremony marking the issuance of new licenses for 69
\nlabor export companies here yesterday, Latief said that
\nviolations, which often have fatal consequences on the workers,
\nwere still rampant. The ministry, however, was ready to revoke
\nthe licenses of companies found to be guilty, he pointed out.<\/p>\n
\"Many companies are still violating procedures of labor export
\noverseas,\" he said, though failing to name the offenders.<\/p>\n
Among the violations the companies conducted were the
\nrecruiting and sending abroad of untrained workers, and the
\nfalsification of workers' identities to expedite their entrance
\nto importing countries. There are countries which receive only
\nworkers of certain religions, for instance, and so the companies
\nfalsify data about the workers' faiths.<\/p>\n
\"These practices must be stopped,\" Latief said.<\/p>\n
Latief said a team has been set up to evaluate the performance
\nof the labor export companies. The team is authorized to initiate
\nlegal actions against violators.<\/p>\n
Procedures<\/p>\n
The ministry recently tightened procedures for the sending of
\nIndonesian workers abroad by issuing a decree which named a
\nnumber of conditions a company has to comply with before it can
\noperate.<\/p>\n
In addition to possessing a new license and strong management,
\ncompanies are required to set up mechanisms which provide workers
\nwith legal protection.<\/p>\n
The booming markets for Indonesian workers in some foreign
\ncountries, such as Malaysia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia, bring
\nadverse consequences such as mistreatment of workers on the part
\nof employers. Reports of rape or abuse of workers were rampant,
\nand analysts and activists alike have complained that many of the
\nworkers lack legal protection.<\/p>\n
With yesterday's issuance of new permits, the total number of
\nlabor export companies with new licenses is 154.<\/p>\n
Anthon Sihombing, deputy chairman of the Association of
\nIndonesian Labor Export Companies (APJATI) welcomed the issuance
\nof new licenses.<\/p>\n
The additional licensees would help spur competition among the
\nlabor export companies, especially on service, training and
\nprotection for workers, he said.<\/p>\n
So far this year, Indonesia has exported over 255,000 workers.
\nThe figure exceeded the targeted 230,000 for the 1995-96 fiscal
\nyear. Forty percent of the workers are skilled.<\/p>\n
The government has vowed to phase out the sending of unskilled
\nworkers abroad. Starting from 1998, Indonesia hopes to send only
\ntrained and skilled workers.<\/p>\n
The campaign aimed at not only improving the image and welfare
\nof Indonesian workers abroad, but also at increasing foreign
\nexchange revenues through the repatriation of their earnings.<\/p>\n
It was in this context that Latief yesterday made a fresh call
\non the companies to provide workers with adequate training prior
\nto their departure.<\/p>\n
The minister said that the government had every interest to
\nimprove the labor export program because not only it helps
\nincrease foreign exchange, it also eases unemployment problems at
\nhome. (rms)<\/p>",
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