Settling migrant worker problems<\/p>\n
V.K. Chin, The Star, Asia News Network, Selangor, Malaysia<\/p>\n
A month should be sufficient for the Indonesian government to
\nput its house in order so that it will be easier for its workers
\nto return to work legally in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian government, the employers and those Indonesians
\nwaiting on the other side of the Straits of Malacca are
\nfrustrated by the delay by Jakarta in the approval process.<\/p>\n
This is an unexpected development and is naturally causing
\nconcern to all parties involved, except perhaps to the Indonesian
\nofficials handling such matters.<\/p>\n
The formation of a consortium with the exclusive rights of
\nsubmitting applications to the Indonesian immigration is
\ncertainly not part of the understanding reached at the numerous
\nmeetings between the two governments and their leaders.<\/p>\n
While Kuala Lumpur has done everything possible to enable the
\nIndonesians to return as legalized workers, Jakarta is obviously
\ndragging its feet over this issue.<\/p>\n
The government is therefore at a loss on how to speed things
\nup, but since the bottleneck is at the Indonesian end there is
\nlittle that Malaysia can do about it except ask Jakarta to clear
\nthings up as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
It is quite likely that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is
\nunaware of the situation on the ground, but due to the gravity of
\nthe issue it is important that he and his administration put
\nthings in order.<\/p>\n
The impression is that some greedy Indonesian officials are
\ntaking undue advantage of the event to make some money. They know
\nthey can hold up things by imposing all sorts of fees for the
\nemployers and the workers to pay.<\/p>\n
Several things are likely to happen if the matter is not
\nresolved quickly.<\/p>\n
First, the affected workers eager to return to work will
\nresort to borrowing money to pay the new fees, which are expected
\nto be RM1,000 or more.<\/p>\n
This is a huge amount for the ordinary Indonesians. If they
\nshould decide to do this, then it would mean that they would be
\nfaced with a heavy debt to settle.<\/p>\n
Since waiting or remaining at home is no longer an option,
\nmany of them will most probably take the next drastic step of
\ncoming back to Malaysia illegally and hoping for the best.<\/p>\n
However, many of them may not realize that circumstances have
\nchanged and Malaysian employers are now more wary of employing
\nillegal labor due to the heavier penalty they will have to face
\nif caught.<\/p>\n
So should the Indonesians and other foreigners come in by the
\nback door, they might find the employment door closed to them.
\nWithout the ability to earn a living, they may resort to crime to
\nget the money to survive.<\/p>\n
The third and more serious move will be for the government to
\nlook to other countries to fill the labor shortage. This is an
\naction that could have some serious repercussions on bilateral
\nrelations and will be taken as a last resort.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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