Labor exporters protest new controversial decree<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Migrant labor exporters are protesting a government decree
\nslapping recruitment fees on workers sent to Malaysia and
\nestablishing a consortium they said would institutionalize labor
\nextortion.<\/p>\n
The Association of Labor Exporters to the Asia-Pacific Region
\n(Ajaspac) said Decree No. 79\/2005 issued by Manpower and
\nTransmigration Ministry director general I Gusti Made Arka in
\nearly February required workers wanting to work in Malaysia to
\npay a high price for documents and training.<\/p>\n
Ajaspac legal advisor Halomoan Hutapea told The Jakarta Post
\non Tuesday that the decree was illegitimate.<\/p>\n
\"According to the Amended 1945 Constitution, a director
\ngeneral has no authority to issue a decree imposing levies on
\nworkers that do not match the conditions in the field,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to the decree, a Malaysia-bound worker has to pay Rp
\n120,000 (US$13) to apply for a passport and Rp 250,000 for a
\nhealth check.<\/p>\n
The immigration office charges only Rp 110,000 for a passport,
\nwhile workers usually pay only Rp 125,000 for checkups in public
\nhospitals.<\/p>\n
The decree requires workers to pay Rp 100,000 for work visas,
\nwhile the Malaysian government issues work visas for free.<\/p>\n
Halomoan said according to Ajaspac's calculations, the
\nrecruitment and training fees could be reduced to about Rp 2.5
\nmillion a head.<\/p>\n
He said the skyrocketing fees had contributed to the
\nreluctance of illegal Indonesian immigrants to return home from
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Ajaspac also criticized the creation of the Consortium of
\nAmnesty Programs for Ex-Malaysian Workers (KPA). The
\nestablishment of the group contravened the recent bilateral
\nagreement between Indonesia and Malaysia, it said.<\/p>\n
\"The consortium is chaired by a labor exporter who has a
\npersonal relationship with Manpower and Transmigration Minister
\nFahmi Idris,\" Halomoan said.<\/p>\n
The ministry is facilitating a task force assigned to provide
\na one-stop service for workers wanting to return to Malaysia
\nlegally.<\/p>\n
Halomoan said based on the decree, the consortium could make
\nRp 26.7 billion from 100,000 migrant workers who are returning to
\nthe neighboring country.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis called on
\nthe government to carry out an advocacy program for troubled
\nworkers overseas since the labor exports had contributed to the
\ncountry's revenues for decades.<\/p>\n
\"The government should give a red carpet welcome to all
\nworkers upon their arrival home since they have contributed to
\nthe country's economy for at least 20 years,\" Todung told a
\ndiscussion about the protection of Indonesian workers overseas.<\/p>\n
According to manpower ministry data, labor exports generate
\naround US$1.2 billion annually in foreign exchange from more than
\ntwo million Indonesians working overseas.<\/p>\n
Todung said the government was morally obliged to provide
\nlegal protection for its citizens working overseas.<\/p>\n
\"The government should also coordinate with labor exporters
\nand workers' employers overseas to raise legal aid funds to hire
\nlawyers to provide advocacy for workers involved in disputes,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/labor-exporters-protest-new-controversial-decree-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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