Minimizing labor migration problems<\/p>\n
Carunia Mulya Firdausy, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian economy once again finds itself in trouble. In
\naddition to the continuing unstable exchange rate, there are the
\nproblems of inflation and unemployment. Inflation reached 17.9
\npercent year-on-year in October, while unemployment rose to 12
\npercent.<\/p>\n
A high unemployment rate in particular will no doubt result
\nin more Indonesian workers, particularly unskilled and semi-
\nskilled workers going abroad to look for work. Therefore,
\npolicies are needed to anticipate increasing labor migration from
\nIndonesia to labor receiving countries in Asia.<\/p>\n
More policies governing the migration of Indonesian workers
\noverseas are needed because labor migration from Indonesia has
\nnot brought only positive effects, but also negative ones.<\/p>\n
For labor receiving countries in Asia, labor migration has a
\npositive effect in that it can reduce domestic labor scarcities.
\nBut on the negative side, labor migration can create social and
\neconomic problems, including job competition for locals,
\nespecially for unskilled workers, and can have a dampening effect
\non wages received by semi-skilled and unskilled workers.<\/p>\n
The number of Indonesian labor migrants in Asia in 2004 was
\nabout 3.5 million, excluding undocumented or illegal migrants.
\nMajor destination countries for these Indonesians were Malaysia,
\nSaudi Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.<\/p>\n
In terms of the types of jobs engaged in by the migrants,
\nthere are differences from one country to another.<\/p>\n
In Malaysia, for instance, most of the Indonesian migrant
\nworkers are engaged in the agricultural sector (especially the
\nplantation sector), while the rest are engaged in the
\nconstruction sector, the manufacturing sector and certain service
\nsectors.<\/p>\n
In Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore most of the Indonesian
\nmigrants are involved in 3-D (dirty, dangerous and difficult)
\njobs. They are maids and construction workers, or work in the
\nmanufacturing, marine and service industries.<\/p>\n
Labor migrants to Middle Eastern countries, especially to
\nSaudi Arabia, are mostly females who are contracted for a period
\nof two to three years, mainly as domestic helpers.<\/p>\n
Apart from unskilled and semi-skilled workers, there are also
\nprofessional and technical contract workers who migrate to
\nMalaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Brunei. However,
\nthese workers still account for a small share of total labor
\nmigrant flows, and they consist predominantly of contract workers
\n(who migrate for a duration of about two to three years) rather
\nthan permanent settlers.<\/p>\n
Anticipated future policies to minimize problems associated
\nwith increasing labor migration abroad are considered important
\nbecause there have been many problems associated with the
\nIndonesian migrants. These problems include bad treatment by
\nemployers, unpaid salaries, being overworked and bad living
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
Poor treatment by employers abroad has led many migrants to
\nchange employers. If they cannot find new employers, they usually
\ngo to friends or to the Indonesian embassy in the respective
\ncountry for assistance and protection.<\/p>\n
It is true that many efforts have been made to protect and
\nfacilitate international labor migration from Indonesia to labor
\nreceiving countries in Asia. In addition to numerous
\nconsultations, the government has also enacted regulations on
\ninternational labor migration.<\/p>\n
However, problems continue to beset Indonesian migrant
\nworkers. For these reasons, the following policies are considered
\nimportant:<\/p>\n
First, there is a need for the government to facilitate and
\nregulate the recruitment of migrant workers. This can be done by
\nimproving the skills of Indonesians who want to work abroad so
\nthey can compete with migrants from other countries.<\/p>\n
Second, there is a need for each migrant worker to be insured.
\nThis is important to avoid problems associated with accidents,
\ndeath and sickness. The insurance can be paid by the migrants
\nthemselves or by their employers through wage deductions, or by
\nthe Indonesian government from the remittances sent home by
\noverseas workers.<\/p>\n
Third, there is a need for the government to set policies to
\nmanage the returning migrants (particularly semi-skilled
\nworkers), because these returning migrants have more experience
\nand skills obtained from abroad.<\/p>\n
Fourth, regulations or rules to organize labor migration
\nshould be issued under a law.<\/p>\n
This is needed not only to protect labor migrants from bad
\ntreatment by employers abroad, but more importantly because there
\nis a tendency in which labor receiving countries in Asia are
\nreluctant to formally accept these low-skilled workers.<\/p>\n
Finally, it is important to limit the number of unskilled
\nworkers being sent abroad. Instead, the government should send
\nsemi- and highly skilled workers abroad to study new technologies
\nin Asian countries, as well as in other developed countries. This
\nis critical to speed up technological development in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The writer is the deputy for societal dynamics at the Office
\nof the State Minister for Research and Technology, and can be
\nreached at dep-dm@ristek.go.id. The opinions expressed in this
\narticle are personal.<\/p>",
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