RI stops sending workers to Singapore indefinitely<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Manpower has stopped the sending
\nof migrant workers to Singapore for an indefinite period, until
\nlabor supply firms are able to make clear the protection of
\nworkers there, Antara reported Friday.<\/p>\n
The news agency reported that meanwhile five women were taking
\nrefuge at the Indonesian embassy pending their lawsuits against
\ntheir employers for rape.<\/p>\n
The Director General of Labor Placement at the Ministry, Din
\nSyamsuddin, was quoted as saying in Singapore that three months
\nago he had instructed labor supply firms to stop their services
\nto Singapore \"until workers' rights and protection were clear.\"<\/p>\n
Din's visit to Singapore was his last leg on a tour to five
\nAsian countries to seek opportunities for Indonesian workers with
\n20 labor supply firms. These were South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
\nand Malaysia as well as Singapore.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the embassy in Singapore, he was accompanied by
\nIndonesian envoy HBL Mantiri, representatives of 10 labor supply
\nfirms and the director for economic and technical cooperation of
\nthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fauzi Gani.<\/p>\n
Din said despite his instruction to stop sending workers to
\nSingapore three months ago, workers were still flowing in, mainly
\nthrough Batam and the Riau coast it was believed.<\/p>\n
At the embassy he met with the five workers. One said she had
\nbeen raped by her employer's son while the rest said they had
\nbeen raped by their employers.<\/p>\n
Presently 22 migrant workers, all female, are taking refuge at
\nthe embassy, including those who have reported physical abuse by
\nemployers.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Mantiri acknowledged funds needed for the handling
\nof many migrants' cases including costs for accommodation for
\nthose seeking refuge there. He was responding to rumors that
\nworkers were charged S$80 per person by the embassy, the agency
\nreported. However the envoy said all payments were reported to
\nthe state treasury.<\/p>\n
Din acknowledged that several cases of migrants in trouble
\nsuch as those found at the Singapore embassy could be traced to
\nlack of preparation of migrants regarding their jobs and
\nconditions in their host countries.<\/p>\n
The ministry, he said, will shortly require contracts to be
\nsigned by workers and employers which would be legalized by the
\ngovernment's representatives in host countries. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-stops-sending-workers-to-singapore-indefinitely-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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