Problem of migrant workers<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
Frequently occurring problems related to Indonesian migrant
\nworkers are a dilemma. It often happens that cases involving
\nthese migrant workers are not thoroughly settled because
\ninformation about these workers, while still at home and abroad,
\nis not adequately disseminated.<\/p>\n
We have often been shocked by problems encountered by
\nIndonesian migrant workers abroad. The cases become more heart-
\nrending as the tragic fate befalling these migrant workers often
\ndoes not reach us until the \"final\" stage, or, in other words,
\nthe problem will attract public attention only when the workers
\nconcerned are awaiting their execution or when the execution has
\nbeen carried out.<\/p>\n
If we trace the process that prospective migrant workers have
\nto go through before they are finally accepted to work overseas,
\nwe can understand the extent of their sacrifice in terms of time,
\nenergy and many other things. As employment opportunities at home
\nare becoming more and more scarce, prospective migrant workers,
\nprompted by their economic needs, will always jump at the
\nopportunity to work abroad, especially if they are lured with
\nhigh pay. Most prospective migrant workers will not hesitate to
\nborrow money at an interest rate higher than usual, or sell their
\nbelongings to raise money, strongly hoping that working overseas
\nwill economically change their lives for the better. Once they
\nget a job overseas, they can start paying back their loans, or
\nbuy whatever they have sold to enable them to get this job.<\/p>\n
Prior to their departure for where they will be employed,
\nthese migrant workers are also psychologically burdened. If, for
\nexample, the labor-exporting company arranging their overseas
\nemployment cancels their departure abroad, they will not only
\nsuffer material losses but will feel too ashamed to return to
\ntheir own villages, especially if they have borrowed money from
\nfellow villagers. This will give rise to new problems, among
\nother things going abroad through a broker.<\/p>\n
The mechanism stipulated in the regulation on workers wishing
\nto go abroad is clear enough. However, things are different in
\npractice.<\/p>\n
The regulation stipulates, for example, that in recruiting
\nprospective migrant workers, an Indonesian labor-exporting
\ncompany must fulfill certain requirements, some of which are
\ngiven below:
\n - the identity and the minimum age of a prospective migrant
\nworker;
\n - full information for the prospective migrant worker about the
\nconditions\/cultural environment and about legislation prevailing
\nin the country of destination;
\n - the provision of job education\/training at a job training
\ncenter (BLK) in accordance with the type of skill needed abroad;
\n - medical checkup for a prospective migrant worker, payment of
\nworkers' insurance and so forth.<\/p>\n
What often happens is that the identity of a prospective
\nmigrant worker to be sent abroad is faked so that when this
\nmigrant worker has a problem abroad, his\/her data will be
\ndifficult to find. As a result, the settlement of his\/her problem
\ncan be delayed or even no thorough solution can be found. In view
\nof all this, no defense can be extended to Indonesian migrant
\nworkers who happen to be involved in problems abroad.<\/p>\n
CITRAWATI SOEKASAH<\/p>\n
Chairperson of South Jakarta branch<\/p>\n
executive board of the<\/p>\n
Association of Indonesian Lawyers<\/p>\n
(Ikadin), Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/problem-of-migrant-workers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }