Promising start by new government for migrant workers<\/p>\n
Alan Boulton
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The actions by the President and the Manpower Minister in
\ntheir early days in office are a good sign that the Government
\nwill finally address the problems which confront many Indonesian
\nmigrant workers.<\/p>\n
The President made a special trip to Riau to welcome returning
\nworkers from Malaysia and to acknowledge the contribution of
\nthese \"heroes\". The new manpower minister, Fahmi Idris, has
\nvisited Malaysia for discussions with the Malaysian government on
\na range of migrant workers issues. It is important that follow-up
\naction ensure a proper system and protections are now put in
\nplace for migrant workers.<\/p>\n
There is growing awareness of the problems encountered by many
\nIndonesians who seek employment opportunities in other countries.
\nWhile overseas employment can be a rewarding experience for many,
\nsome migrant workers suffer poor working and living conditions.
\nIn recent well-publicized cases, some workers have suffered
\nserious abuses at the hands of their employers.<\/p>\n
Migrant workers are an increasingly important part of the
\nlabor force of many countries. It is estimated that there are
\nmore than 86 million migrant workers the world over, of which
\nsome 32 million are in developing regions. More than two million
\nAsian workers leave home every year to work in other countries
\nwithin, and outside, the region, under short-term employment
\ncontracts.<\/p>\n
Today's migrant workforce includes workers with a variety of
\nskills. At the upper end are the millions of professional workers
\nwho travel to other countries in search of higher wages or
\ngreater opportunities. However migration flows are dominated by
\nworkers moving to fill unskilled jobs in those sectors of the
\nlabor market vacated by native workers who have moved on to
\nbetter jobs. Most migrants from developing countries tend to end
\nup working in the so-called \"3D\" jobs -- the dirty, dangerous,
\nand difficult jobs that local workers don't want.<\/p>\n
Women account for an increasing proportion of international
\nmigrants. The feminization of the migrant workforce, particularly
\nin labor-intensive manufacturing industries and in many service
\nindustries, is most evident in Asia, where a considerable number
\nof women emigrate each year in both unskilled and skilled
\nprofessions, the majority in domestic service and entertainment
\nand, to a lesser extent, in nursing and teaching.<\/p>\n
Over the last decade Indonesia has become one of the world's
\nmajor suppliers of unskilled international contract labor.
\nIndonesia is the second largest exporter of labor after the
\nPhilippines. According to a recent ILO study, the number of
\ndocumented or regular migrant workers was 438,000 in 2002. The
\nnumber of undocumented or irregular migrant workers is difficult
\nto estimate, but is likely to be at least twice the official
\nfigure.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that the annual foreign exchange earnings
\nderived from Indonesian migrant workers is between US$1.1 to $2.2
\nbillion. Remittances from migrant workers in 2003 alone amounted
\nto $1.86 billion, making them the second largest contributor to
\nIndonesia's foreign exchange earnings after oil and gas.<\/p>\n
About 72 percent of Indonesian migrant workers are women. Over
\n90 percent of these women are employed as domestic workers in
\ncountries like Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South
\nKorea and the Middle East. The two main destinations are Malaysia
\n(40 percent) and Saudi Arabia (37 percent). Of these countries,
\nonly Hong Kong provides a legal framework for the protection of
\ndomestic workers rights, such as working hours, standardized
\nwages, leave, and other conditions of employment.<\/p>\n
Indonesian migrant workers therefore contribute a great deal
\nto the Indonesian economy and society and are an increasingly
\nimportant part of its labor force. Labor migration offers
\nprospects of employment for many who would have little chance of
\nfinding jobs at home and therefore helps to relieve the
\nunemployment problems in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The challenge for government is to find ways of maximizing
\nmigration's contribution to growth and development and providing
\nappropriate protections and support for Indonesians who want to
\nwork in other countries.<\/p>\n
So what needs to be done? Providing better protections for
\nmigrant workers will involve work at different levels. At the
\ninternational level, there must be acceptance that core labor
\nstandards provide a minimum set of global rules for labor in the
\nglobal economy.<\/p>\n
At the national level, some of the key areas requiring
\nimprovement include: the provision of accurate, timely and
\nappropriate information to potential migrant workers about costs
\ninvolved and wages and conditions at the destination; effective
\ncontrol of recruiters and middlemen so that commissions, travel
\nand recruiting costs are charged at realistic levels to encourage
\nless undocumented labor migration.<\/p>\n
There have already been significant improvements in the
\nsupport provided to migrant workers through Indonesian embassies
\nin many receiving countries. There is scope for developing these
\nservices further through the posting of Labor Attaches in more
\nembassies and the encouragement of support groups for Indonesian
\nworkers abroad.<\/p>\n
Providing better protections will involve the national
\ngovernment working with provincial and district governments on
\nsome of these measures. Consideration should also be given to
\nways of upgrading the skills base of the migrant labor workforce,
\nin order to improve their competitiveness and bargaining power.
\nIt is sensible to commit resources to develop one of Indonesia's
\nlargest export industries -- and especially to one which brings
\nbenefits to many ordinary Indonesian women and men.<\/p>\n
It is essential that there be dialogue with, and involvement
\nof, key stakeholders, service providers, and monitoring agencies.
\nTrade unions and community organizations can assist migrant
\nworkers by organizing them and giving voice to their concerns.
\nMost important of all, there is a need to involve migrant workers
\nthemselves in the efforts to provide better protection.<\/p>\n
The fair treatment and protection of migrant workers also
\nrelates to their return to Indonesia and integration back into
\ntheir local communities.<\/p>\n
We need to make greater efforts, both to ensure that Indonesia
\nand Indonesians benefit from the opportunities of international
\nlabor migration, and that proper protections are provided for
\nmigrant workers. Effective and sustained action on the part of
\ngovernment is necessary for the development, implementation and
\nmonitoring of policies that will maximize the benefits, and
\nminimize the risks, of labor migration.<\/p>\n
Alan Boulton, is ILO country director for Indonesia. The above
\nview is strictly personal.<\/p>",
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