'Migrant workers deserve equal rights'<\/p>\n
The violent treatment of Indonesian migrant workers is an old
\nstory. Yet, the story is ongoing as the government is yet to take
\nfirm steps toward their protection. The Jakarta Post talked with
\nsome people in response to the issue.<\/p>\n
Andre, not his real name, 36, used to work in Saudi Arabia.
\nNow he is a sidewalk vendor in South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
Compared to other migrant workers I was very lucky. I was
\nrecruited by an honest Arabian employer nine years ago and became
\nthe manager of his Indonesian restaurant. However, I decided to
\nleave the job and returned home this year for personal reasons.<\/p>\n
Many migrant workers suffer from sexual abuse and violence.
\nMost employers there think they can do anything to the workers
\nbecause they pay their salaries. But the employers are not just
\nArabians, they are also immigrants from, among others, Pakistan,
\nEgypt and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Maybe, such harsh treatment is also related to the fact that
\nmany Indonesian women, particularly from Cianjur and Indramayu in
\nWest Java, are recruited to be sex workers there.<\/p>\n
We migrant workers can't hope the Indonesian government will
\nprotect us. Even the embassy staff don't care about our fates
\nbecause they collude with the employers and local police.<\/p>\n
The recruitment agencies are evil and must be closed down. I
\nhope someday we will have reliable people to channel migrant
\nworkers properly.<\/p>\n
Lyla, 29, is employed at a company in South Jakarta. She lives
\nin Cakung, East Jakarta, with her family:<\/p>\n
I wish President Megawati (Soekarnoputri) would protect the
\nmigrant workers as Philippines president (Gloria Macapagal
\nArroyo) has done. The President should respect and protect all
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
Also, the government should be concerned over the violent
\ntreatment of Indonesian workers overseas, instead of focusing so
\nmuch on terrorist suspects. It's stupid!<\/p>\n
I'm afraid our government turns a blind eye on the problems of
\nmigrant workers in the Middle East because they are afraid of
\nlosing income from the haj pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
Parno, 39, is a driver with a company on Jl. Jend. Sudirman,
\nSouth Jakarta. He lives in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I have nothing else to say but that I am truly sorry for the
\nsuffering of our migrant workers, as exposed by the media. They
\nwork hard to earn money for their families, but many of them
\nreturn home with painful experiences.<\/p>\n
I can't imagine how the employers there can escape the law.<\/p>\n
I once picked up one of my relatives on her return from Hong
\nKong as migrant worker. She admitted that her job was prone to
\nviolence and sexual abuse.<\/p>\n
I don't know why the government is so weak in curbing the
\nwrongdoings of recruitment agencies.<\/p>\n
The government is not seriously committed to the issue because
\nour leaders are busy thinking about money and power.<\/p>\n
It saddens me that, on their return, the migrant workers are
\nalso blackmailed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport's
\nTerminal III. They too are Indonesian and deserve equal rights.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/migrant-workers-deserve-equal-rights-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }