JP\/6\/FAIZA
\nIt's pseudo-nationalism to blame only Malaysia<\/p>\n
Malaysia, Indonesia both exploit workers<\/p>\n
Faiza Mardzoeki
\nWomen's Solidarity for Human Rights
\n(Solidaritas Perempuan)
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Since Malaysia passed Immigration Act No. 1154 2002 in August,
\nthere has been a mass deportation of migrant workers from there.
\nThe new law applies to those workers not possessing legal
\ndocuments and also to their employers. The new law imposes
\npenalties of caning, fines as well as prison terms for both
\nparties. Like an avalanche, the flight of fleeing workers has led
\nto thousands being left stranded on the island of Nunukan, which
\nlies on the border between Tawau and East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Figures for the period up until August show that 350,000
\npeople have passed through the island, with 70 deaths occurring
\namong these workers and their families as a result of a delayed
\nreaction from the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
Criticism and protests against the Malaysian government need
\nto be stronger. But the Indonesian government is equally guilty
\nof unjust and inhumane policies. It is false nationalism to
\noppose the policies of only one government.<\/p>\n
Our government has been extremely slow in responding to the
\nemergency situation, and even gives the impression of being
\nunconcerned. The President has not commented at all on the
\nsituation of the people abandoned in Nunukan. She did not take
\nthe opportunity to raise this issue during the meeting between
\nherself and Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad in Bali on Aug. 7
\nand Aug. 8. The President apparently prefers to travel the world
\nrather than visit her people who are suffering so much.<\/p>\n
Mahathir's government is meanwhile applying a double standard
\nin handling the issue of Indonesian migrant workers. Most of
\nthese workers are in the construction or plantation industries,
\nwhile the remainder are in domestic service. They are paid low
\nwages and are constantly harassed by the police. According to
\ndata from the Indonesian Consortium for the Defense of Migrant
\nWorkers (KOPBUMI), 700 Indonesian workers have been arrested and
\nplaced in detention camps, and 23 have been sentenced to caning.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian government has unfairly accused Indonesian
\nworkers as being behind past riots and unrest in that country.
\nThis is in fact a form of discrimination toward Indonesian
\nworkers. The Malaysian government should also be prepared to
\ninvestigate the repressive practices of its police, who use
\nthreats and violence in raids known as Operasi Pengenyahan
\n(drive-out operations) and also extort migrants for money.<\/p>\n
As it has often been noted, Malaysia's prosperity would not
\nhave been possible without Indonesia's workers. Its plantations,
\nthe nation's pride -- the Petronas Towers, its international
\nairport and the Formula I racing circuit are all the result of
\nthe hard work of Indonesian migrant workers, many of whom
\nsuffered during the construction of these buildings.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian and Malaysian governments have used, and
\nabused, these migrant workers. For Indonesia, these workers
\nreduce unemployment at home, while the government continues to be
\nunable to create adequate employment for the rest of the country.
\nThe workers have become a major source of foreign exchange and
\ncontribute an average of Rp 23 billion per year to the economy.
\nThe Ministry of Manpower revealed there were 387,304 workers sent
\noverseas last year.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Malaysia needs these workers to carry out
\nwork in the \"3D\" category -- dirty, dangerous and difficult --
\nthe type of work that locals are reluctant to be engaged in.<\/p>\n
The mass deportations have provoked tension between both
\ncountries. Resolving these problems in the future requires an
\napproach that goes beyond just fixing up documents.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government needs to learn to listen to its
\npeople. To date, the government has only looked upon migrant
\nworkers as commodities bringing in foreign exchange. The only
\nregulations the government has produced are rules relating to
\nthose for labor placement.<\/p>\n
The government needs to stop viewing these people as a
\ncommodity and see them as people with human rights that have to
\nbe protected. There should immediately be a new law extending
\nthis protection to Indonesian migrant workers. Indonesia needs to
\nquickly ratify the United Nations Convention on the protection of
\nMigrant Workers and their Families.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian government needs to have their eyes opened to
\nsee that their police are also violating the human rights of
\nthese workers. They need to review their laws on these matters.
\nThey should respect the principles laid down in the international
\nconventions on migrant workers.<\/p>\n
Now is the time for these two governments to take these issues
\nseriously. The two countries need each other. There needs to be a
\nbilateral agreement that gives protection to the Indonesian
\nmigrant workers and it should be accompanied by a high level of
\nlabor diplomacy that is in the principles of justice.<\/p>\n
These are the tasks ahead of Megawati and Mahathir. But
\nperhaps this is all beyond them and someone else needs to take
\nover?<\/p>",
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