5,000 women workers stranded in Middle East

JAKARTA (JP): More than 5,000 women workers have fled their employers and are being housed temporarily in Indonesian embassies across the Middle East, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

One of the major impediments to assisting these workers is that many of them entered their countries of employment illegally, an official at the Labor Export Association (Apjati) said.

Apjati deputy chairman Jamal Aziz said that based on reports he had received, Indonesian embassies in the Middle East were having financial difficulties housing the workers and no action was being taken to repatriate the women.

He said that according to reports, the workers were being accommodated in dormitories in embassies in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.

Jamal said most of the workers were employed as domestic servants and fled their jobs after suffering abuse at the hands of their employers.

"Many left their jobs after being raped and tortured by their employers, and many others fled because they were not being paid accordingly," he said, adding that many workers facing similar difficulties were able to return to Indonesia at their own expense.

He said Apjati could not be blamed for the plight of many of the workers because they entered their countries of employment illegally and no Indonesian companies affiliated with the association were involved in their employment.

"After checking their entrance to the countries, we found the workers were supplied by companies and individuals who have no labor export license. It is the new government's responsibility to repatriate the workers and take action against those who smuggled them overseas," Jamal said.

According to data from Apjati, there were some 600,000 Indonesian workers employed as domestic servants in Middle Eastern countries. The workers' salaries vary from country to country.

Jamal pointed to one local businessman who he alleged illegally supplied Indonesian workers to Kuwait.

"Some 122 workers sent by him have run away from their jobs and are now being housed at the Indonesia Embassy in Kuwait because they are in trouble with their employers," he said.

"Most of the workers have no work visas or contracts. Such a condition allowed their employers to treat them arbitrarily," he said, adding that the Indonesian government should lobby Kuwait to give greater protection to Indonesians working in the country.

The issue of Indonesian workers abroad has been a constant problem for the government for several years.

Despite the high profile of recorded cases of mistreatment and abuse, working abroad continues to be an attractive option for many, especially those from small villages, as they are lured with the prospect of attaining high income during a time of economic crisis at home. (rms)