House urged to help reform labor export procedure<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Labor Supplying Companies
\n(Apjati) urged the House of Representatives to press the
\ngovernment to reform the labor export procedure which it
\ndescribed as ineffective and unfair.<\/p>\n
\"Apjati needs political support from the House to force a
\nreform of the labor export procedure if we are determined to
\ndevelop this sector and solve the unemployment problem,\" Husein
\nA. Alaydrus, Apjati chairman told a hearing with the House
\nCommission VII for labor and social welfare here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said it was not fair at all to blame labor exporters for
\nthe troubles plaguing Indonesian workers overseas while the
\ngovernment has never anticipated the sorts of incidents that
\nmigrant workers may experience.<\/p>\n
\"Many Indonesian migrant workers have troubles with their
\nemployers due to their lack of skills, a serious problem that
\nshould be blamed on the government rather than labor exporters,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Citing the Constitution, he said the government was obliged to
\nprovide education and vocational training for job seekers.<\/p>\n
The latest data shows that almost half of around 4 million
\nIndonesian workers overseas are elementary school graduates and
\ndropouts from remote areas.<\/p>\n
Husein further criticized the Ministry of Manpower and
\nTransmigration for issuing controversial regulations on labor
\nexports.<\/p>\n
\"The replacement of ministers and other high ranking officials
\nat the ministry has brought changes in regulations concerning
\nlabor contracts, legal protection for workers and their
\ntransportation to and from their home villages,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He wondered why over the last decade three companies and a
\nconsortium had been appointed to run insurance programs for
\nworkers and why a lot of transportation companies had been named
\nto take workers home upon arrival at airports.<\/p>\n
He also questioned a ruling which obliges a migrant worker to
\npay US$20 to the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration and
\nanother $11 in protection fees to Indonesian embassies in the
\ncountries where they are employed. Husein said so far the funds
\ncollected from the levies had never been used to handle troubled
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
He said the manpower ministry should strengthen its
\ncoordination with the foreign ministry, the home affairs and
\nregional autonomy ministry, the Immigration Office and the
\nNational Police to help job seekers who wish to work overseas,
\ninstead of extorting them. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-urged-to-help-reform-labor-export-procedure-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}