Soeharto tells embassies to protect RI workers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on all Indonesian
\nembassies yesterday to protect Indonesian workers abroad and to
\nextend assistance whenever required.<\/p>\n
Opening a national working conference organized by the
\nMinistry of Manpower, Soeharto said the ministry as well as the
\nIndonesian embassies abroad should pay greater attention to the
\ncondition of Indonesian workers overseas.<\/p>\n
\"I am asking (you) to pay more attention to the fate of
\nIndonesian workers by continually monitoring their condition and
\ngiving help whenever they are in trouble,\" he said in keynote
\naddress at the opening ceremony at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
As the number of Indonesians seeking employment overseas
\ngrows, there are now concerns about their condition and their
\nlack of protection in the countries where they reside.<\/p>\n
At the last official count, there were an estimated 700,000
\nIndonesians working overseas, with Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and
\nSingapore among the most popular destinations.<\/p>\n
There have been reports of Indonesian workers abroad being
\nexploited by their employers. The low skill and education
\nbackground of the majority of Indonesian workers have made them
\neasy prey for exploitation.<\/p>\n
Last year, an Indonesian woman worker employed as a domestic
\nhelper in Singapore died. Police said she committed suicide but
\nher family in Indonesia remains unconvinced. Early this year, two
\nIndonesian workers were beheaded in Saudi Arabia after they were
\nfound guilty of killing their Arab employer.<\/p>\n
On both occasions, concerns were raised about the degree of
\nhelp that the Indonesian embassies in the two countries provided.<\/p>\n
Soeharto stressed the importance of Indonesia continuing with
\nthe program of sending workers abroad to help alleviate the high
\nunemployment problem at home.<\/p>\n
But he said that Indonesia should send only skilled workers
\nbecause the nation's image is at stake.<\/p>\n
\"All this requires good planning,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief early this week announced
\nhis plan to summon a number of Indonesian ambassadors to Jakarta
\nto discuss ways of enhancing their protection.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said in his speech that one of the biggest problems
\nIndonesia faces is providing employment for its ever-growing
\nranks of workers.<\/p>\n
Officials estimate that each year, more than two million new
\njob seekers join the labor market.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the national manpower planning and the integrated
\nlabor information data base which are now being developed by the
\ngovernment will be completed soon,\" Soeharto said, adding that
\nthese are expected to help reduce unemployment.<\/p>\n
He called for greater coordination between government agencies
\nin tackling the unemployment problem.<\/p>\n
Officially the level of unemployment is estimated at around
\nthree percent of the work force. Officials acknowledge, however,
\nthat the actual level could be as high as 30 percent.(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-tells-embassies-to-protect-ri-workers-1447893297",
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