Taiwan may recruit RI workers again soon<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Taiwan will resume its recruitment of Indonesian workers after
\nthe expected signing in May 2004 of a memorandum of understanding
\n(MoU) on labor cooperation, Taiwan's new economic and trade
\nrepresentative to Indonesia said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"The negotiations on the draft MoU (on labor cooperation) are
\nalmost finished. Hopefully, it will be signed by May 2004,\" David
\nY.L. Lin, Taiwan's trade and economic representative in
\nIndonesia, said in Jakarta on Sunday during a press briefing.<\/p>\n
Lin, who assumed his post just four months ago in Jakarta,
\nsaid Taiwan did not want Indonesian workers to be exploited by
\ngreedy labor sending agencies while working in Taiwan.<\/p>\n
The main objectives of the MoU are to enhance the welfare of
\nIndonesian workers, increase wages and provide legal protection.<\/p>\n
Taiwan had imposed a temporary ban on the recruitment of
\nworkers from Indonesia after Jakarta failed to resolve problems
\ninvolving in the exorbitant fees charged by local labor agencies
\nas well as the issue of illegal Indonesian workers.<\/p>\n
After the ban, the number of Indonesian workers was dropped to
\nthe present 56,000 from a peak of 100,000 in 2002.<\/p>\n
The ban was supposed to be lifted in March after the visit of
\nTaiwan's labor minister Chen Chu in January 2004. But the ban was
\nnot lifted, and no reason was publicly announced.<\/p>\n
Most Indonesian manpower supply agencies impose high fees on
\nworkers (to whom they are indebted for years) but provide almost
\nno protection or training.<\/p>\n
\"We feel that the money earned by Indonesian workers must be
\ntheirs alone, and not end up being sent back to the labor
\nagencies or any other group. There must be reasonable fees for
\nlabor supply agencies and a system to enable Indonesian workers
\nto work in Taiwan and earn more money for themselves,\" Lin said.<\/p>\n
Many Indonesians, who can earn around US$500 per month in
\nTaiwan -- eight to 10 times higher than this country -- who do
\nnot want to pay their hard-earned cash to unscrupulous labor
\nagents from both Indonesia and Taiwan, decide to work as illegal
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
Taiwan recruits mainly Indonesian workers for jobs in
\nhouseholds, hospitals, factories and construction sectors.<\/p>\n
Indonesian workers, who are hard working, and have won the
\nhearts and minds of Taiwanese employers, Lin said.<\/p>\n
He mentioned that the cooperation from the Indonesia's
\nmanpower ministry is very good and both the countries agreed on
\nthe need to improve labor conditions.<\/p>\n
After the signing of the MoU in May, 2004, Taiwan plans to
\nlift the ban on the recruitment of Indonesian workers, Lin added.<\/p>\n
Indonesia does not maintain official diplomatic ties with
\nTaiwan due to its \"One China\" policy.<\/p>\n
Yet, Taiwan, whose interests are handled by Lin's office, has
\nemerged as an important trading partner of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
For example, the total bilateral trade volume was US$4.44
\nbillion in 2003 or up 9.5 percent from the previous year. With
\nits cumulative investment of $13 billion through 2003, Taiwan
\nwould be Indonesia's fifth largest foreign investor.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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