Try Sutrisno calls for improved labor policy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno called for reform of
\nthe country's labor export policy yesterday to help improve
\nIndonesia's image overseas.<\/p>\n
When addressing a manpower ministry workshop, Try said a
\ncrackdown on illegal labor suppliers, tighter control of work
\npermits and people choosing overseas jobs more carefully was
\nneeded.<\/p>\n
The complicated existing licensing procedures have discouraged
\nmany job seekers wanting to work overseas from obtaining them and
\nso they often go illegally.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's image and dignity have been hurt by the huge
\nnumber of Indonesians working abroad illegally,\" Try said.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of thousands of Indonesians work illegally in
\nMalaysia. Earlier this week Kuala Lumpur deported almost 300 of
\nthem.<\/p>\n
The absence of research on the types of jobs available abroad
\nhas resulted in many Indonesian female workers ending up with
\nindecent jobs and being poorly treated by their employers, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The latest official to raise concern over Indonesian workers'
\nplight abroad was Mien Sugandhi, the State Minister of Women's
\nRoles.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month she said she planned to go to Saudi Arabia
\nto acquire first-hand information on reports that many Indonesian
\nworkers there were living in deplorable conditions and had been
\nreduced to working as prostitutes.<\/p>\n
Try said he supported the export of workers but that he wanted
\nto see the system better organized so that Indonesians could
\ncompete with workers from other countries.<\/p>\n
The tight competition should encourage vocational training
\ncenters and related government agencies to provide job seekers
\nwith proper skills, he said.<\/p>\n
At the meeting, also attended by State Minister of
\nAdministrative Reforms T.B. Silalahi, Attorney General Singgih
\nand Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief, Try also urged the
\nFederation of the All Indonesian Workers Union to improve its
\nstandards.<\/p>\n
The federation is the country's only government-recognized
\nlabor organization.<\/p>\n
During a question-and-answer session, Try warned that workers
\nshould not be used by interest groups to satisfy the latter's
\npolitical ends.<\/p>\n
\"Workers can be used to create instability which would disrupt
\ndevelopment and hurt their interests,\" he said. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/try-sutrisno-calls-for-improved-labor-policy-1447893297",
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