State firm to handle workers for Malaysia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has appointed state-owned PT Bina
\nJasa Adikarya (Bijak) as the sole company allowed to send
\nIndonesian workers to Malaysia, a move designed to instill order
\nin the lucrative yet chaotic business of exporting workers.<\/p>\n
Under the regulation, any licensed manpower supplier company
\nis permitted to recruit workers bound for Malaysia, but it has to
\narrange their departure and arrange contracts with Malaysian
\nemployers through PT Bijak.<\/p>\n
The rule does not apply for domestic helpers, which are still
\nin great demand in Malaysia. All labor export companies are free
\nto directly export domestic helpers to Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The Association of Labor Export Companies has given a cautious
\nwelcome to the ruling, stressing that the state monopoly \"should
\nplay fair\".<\/p>\n
\"PT Bijak should not take all the orders given to Indonesia by
\nMalaysia,\" the association's deputy chairman, Anthon Sihombing,
\nsaid on Monday. \"It has to share the orders with other
\ncompanies.\"<\/p>\n
The appointment of PT Bijak as the sole agency to supply
\nworkers to Malaysia follows an agreement struck by the two
\ngovernments to control the flow of Indonesian workers into
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
The presence of hundreds of thousands of illegal Indonesian
\nworkers has created problems on both sides of the border. Given
\ntheir illegal status, many workers are subject to severe
\nexploitation by their employers.<\/p>\n
\"Under the bilateral agreement, the two countries can discuss
\nlabor protection, skills and the wage system for the Indonesian
\nworkers in Malaysia,\" Anthon said.<\/p>\n
On the Malaysian side, Kuala Lumpur has appointed a government
\ntask force to handle Indonesian workers sent by PT Bijak and
\nplace them at various employment agencies. These agencies will
\nsend the workers to work in the manufacturing, plantation or
\nconstruction sectors.<\/p>\n
Anthon said the move is expected to eliminate the operation of
\nunauthorized labor agencies that have been sending workers from
\nIndonesia to Malaysia through illegal channels.<\/p>\n
Over one million Indonesians are currently working in Malaysia
\nto take advantage of its rapidly booming economy. About half of
\nthem are working illegally. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/state-firm-to-handle-workers-for-malaysia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}