RI workers still safe in Mideast, says govt<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As many as 1.5 million workers employed in Middle Eastern
\ncountries should remain safe should the United States and its
\nallies lauch an attack on Iraq as Indonesia, besides preparing a
\ncontingency plan, has gained assurances on their safety from host
\ncountries in the region.<\/p>\n
Indonesian missions in Middle Eastern countries, including
\nIraq, are on high alert as the dispute between Iraq and the
\nUnited States heats up, while Indonesian diplomats have
\nintensified their lobbying of host countries in the region to
\nprovide protection for Indonesian citizens living there.<\/p>\n
Marti Natalegawa, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign
\nAffairs, said Indonesian missions in the region had been
\npreparing for the worst case scenario should a second Gulf war
\nerupt in the near future.<\/p>\n
"So far, the situation in the region remains conducive and our
\nembassies there, including in Iraq, are continuing to carry out
\ntheir day-to-day duties.<\/p>\n
"Besides having gained assurances from the host countries
\nwhere millions of Indonesian citizens are studying or working, we
\nhave prepared a contingency plan on what to do if Indonesian
\ncitizens, including workers, find themselves in emergencies," he
\ntold The Jakarta Post by telephone here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The situation is escalating in the Middle East as the United
\nStates continues deploying equipment and manpower in strength to
\nthe region. U.S. administration officials have said that despite
\nthe UN inspection team's report to the Security Council, the
\nUnited States would launch an attack on Iraq either with its
\nallies or alone.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea
\nconcurred with Marti and said the government was monitoring
\ndevelopments on a day-to-day basis in the region so as to
\nsafeguard all Indonesian interests there.<\/p>\n
"We are continuing to give priority to the safety of
\nIndonesian citizens in the region but we should consider other
\nfactors so that they will not disrupt our citizens' interests
\nthere. You can image what would happen at home should the 1.5
\nmillion workers employed in the Middle East be repatriated now.<\/p>\n
"Besides, the countries where Indonesian workers are employed
\nhave assured Indonesia that they will provide the same maximum
\nprotection as they did during the first Gulf War in 1990," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Nuwa Wea confirmed that Indonesia would stop sending workers
\nto the Middle East during March so as to allow it to overhaul the
\nofficial procedures for labor exports, rather than because of the
\nescalating situation in the region.<\/p>\n
"The government's decision has nothing to do with the
\ndeteriorating situation but is intended to allow us to improve
\nthe quality of the human resources being exported to the region,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Abdulla Umar, former chairman of the Association of Labor
\nExport Companies (Apjati), said all labor exporters accepted the
\ngovernment's recent decision to temporarily halt the sending of
\nworkers to the Middle East in order to improve Indonesia's
\nbargaining position.<\/p>\n
"The Middle Eastern countries, especially Saudi Arabia,
\nKuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan, are in dire
\nneed of Indonesian workers. Our partner companies in the regions
\nhave given us assurances that Indonesian workers employed in
\ntheir countries will be protected in the same way as their
\ngovernments protect their own citizens," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-workers-still-safe-in-mideast-says-govt-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}