Migrant workers big money for the state<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian migrant workers have rewarded the government's failure
\nto protect and defend them with a whopping US$1 billion in
\nforeign exchange earnings this year alone.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea
\nestimated on Friday the contribution from the neglected workers
\nto state revenue would reach $5.2 billion in 2003 due to the
\nincreasing number of workers seeking employment abroad.<\/p>\n
The latest data issued by the ministry revealed there were
\n465,485 workers, mostly unskilled, who were placed overseas, more
\nthan 37 percent up from the 2001 figure of 338,992.<\/p>\n
Since 2000, the migrant workers have brought $3.2 billion in
\nforeign exchange into the country.<\/p>\n
The actual number of migrant workers is believed to be much
\nhigher as hundreds of thousands more work overseas without work
\npermits.<\/p>\n
Considering the increase in the state revenue from migrant
\nworkers, Jacob pledged to provide them with maximum protection,
\nmainly through the bill on migrant workers' protection and
\nplacement.<\/p>\n
The bill, sponsored by the House of Representatives, is listed
\nas one of bills to be deliberated.<\/p>\n
\"Once we endorse the bill we will curb the problems currently
\nfacing our migrant workers,\" Jacob said.<\/p>\n
Jacob issued a ministerial decree earlier this year which
\nplaces the burden on labor recruitment companies to protect
\nmigrant workers while they are employed overseas. The obligation
\nwill be shifted to the government when the workers arrive home.<\/p>\n
The decree, however, has not been effective due to the absence
\nof supporting regulations and operational guidelines.<\/p>\n
Indonesian migrant workers have faced abuse and extortion,
\nparticularly those who work abroad illegally. There are many
\nreports of Indonesian women who work as domestic helpers overseas
\nwho are beaten or raped by their employers.<\/p>\n
A human tragedy involving the country's migrant workers took
\nplace this year when some 300,000 Illegal Indonesians workers
\nwere expelled from Malaysia following a new immigration act which
\ncame to effect on Aug. 1. Most of the workers, along with their
\nfamilies, streamed into the tiny island of Nunukan in East
\nKalimantan near the Malaysian border.<\/p>\n
Dozens of the returning migrants died from various diseases on
\ntheir way and upon arrival at Nunukan. The government were slow
\nto assist the struggling workers and their families.<\/p>\n
Critics said the tragedy could have been avoided had the
\ngovernment taken action earlier as Malaysia had given advance
\nwarning of the tough immigration law long before it took effect.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has absorbed most of Indonesia's migrant workers, who
\nare mainly employed in construction projects and plantations.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration recorded that as
\nof November 232,614 Indonesian migrant workers were employed in
\nthe Middle East and Africa, an almost 92 percent increase
\ncompared to last year.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia remains the most favored destination, followed by
\nKuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan. In Saudi Arabia
\nalone there are over 206,000 Indonesians working there,<\/p>\n
An increase was also seen in the number of migrant workers
\nleaving to work in the Asia Pacific region from 217,555 to
\n232,770 people and to Europe from 29 to 68.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/migrant-workers-big-money-for-the-state-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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