Three raped migrant workers seek justice<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Three domestic workers recently employed in
\nSaudi Arabia have complained to Ministry of Manpower officials
\nthat they had been raped by their employers, a ministry official
\nhas said.<\/p>\n
The women showed up at the ministry on Thursday, each with a
\nchild that they alleged had been fathered by their former
\nemployer. The children were aged four to 30 months.<\/p>\n
They were accompanied by activists of Solidaritas Perempuan
\n(Women's Solidarity), led by Tati Krisnawaty.<\/p>\n
The three women said that they and their families were \"really
\nashamed\" but said they had to come forward to seek protection and
\nto prevent such cases from happening to the many Indonesian women
\nstill working in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Of the more than 2 million Indonesian workers employed
\noverseas, 600,000 are working in Saudi Arabia, mostly as domestic
\nservants.<\/p>\n
Din Syamsuddin, director general for labor placement, said
\nIndonesia would request that the Saudi Arabian government handle
\nthe three cases seriously.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tati demanded that the government temporarily stop
\nsending women to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants \"because the
\nprogram has damaged the image of Indonesian women and the
\nnation\".<\/p>\n
Expressing deep concern, Din said he would set up a joint team
\nmade up of ministry officials, representatives of the Association
\nof Indonesian Labor Export Companies (Apjati) and members of the
\nvictims' families to investigate the cases.<\/p>\n
Should the accusations be true, he said: \"We will review the
\nlabor export policy and take strict action against the companies
\nthat sent the three workers for their ignorance in handling the
\ncases properly.\"<\/p>\n
The companies could be found guilty of ignoring government
\nrules on labor export, he added.<\/p>\n
Din said the team would also collect the three women's wages
\nwhen in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
The government and Apjati will support the victims' children
\nfor two years, he said, adding that the babies' naturalization
\ndocuments would also be taken care of.<\/p>\n
One of the women, Ida Laela binti Ajuk, who was holding her
\n14-month-old son, expressed disappointment with her labor export
\ncompany, PT Delta Rona Adiguna. She said the company had
\nsuggested she get an abortion, though it did not give her any
\nsupport or assistance.<\/p>\n
\"I tried to do it, but I couldn't. Eventually, I returned home
\nwhen my pregnancy was in the seventh month because I didn't know
\nwhat else to do,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She alleged that she was raped by her employer, Ibrahim
\nMuhammad Al Hababi, after working for him for one and a half
\nyears.<\/p>\n
\"I was forced into (intercourse),\" she said.<\/p>\n
Ida was employed by Al Hababi from June 1996 to December 1997.<\/p>\n
Another woman, Rohaeti binti Muhdi, from Suka Mekar Village in
\nCianjur, West Java, demanded the government investigate her case
\nthoroughly. She, however, declined to comment on her two-and-a-
\nhalf-year-old son who was handicapped.<\/p>\n
Ida said that Rohaeti was still suffering from depression over
\nher son's condition. A Solidaritas Perempuan representative said
\nRohaeti had unsuccessfully tried to abort her pregnancy.<\/p>\n
\"Her (Rohaeti's) son can only laugh and cry. He cannot sit and
\nwalk,\" Ida said.<\/p>\n
Rohaeti, sponsored by PT Duta Ananda Setia, was employed by
\nOman Burhan from 1992 through 1995.<\/p>\n
The other woman, Yuyun, also kept silent. She was holding a
\nfour-month-old baby.<\/p>\n
According to Solidaritas Perempuan, Yuyun was sent to Saudi
\nArabia by PT Amri Margatama in April 1996 and was employed as a
\ndomestic helper by Saad Mousa Al-Shaqrawi until April this year.
\n(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-raped-migrant-workers-seek-justice-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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