Call to stop sending unskilled workers abroad gains support

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Labor Export Companies (Apjati) supported yesterday legislators' call for the government to stop sending unskilled workers abroad.

Abdullah Puteh, chairman of the organization, said in a hearing with House Commission V for manpower here yesterday that his organization also asked the government to seek alternatives to the export of unskilled workers.

"If you asked us to stop sending (unskilled workers abroad), frankly we agree. But what are the alternatives?" he asked.

"If Apjati stopped sending, say, over 10,000 domestic helpers per month, is there any guarantee that they would not go abroad themselves illegally?

"We challenge you, legislators, on what must be stipulated in the next State Policy Guidelines so we can stop (sending unskilled workers abroad)," he said.

Among the legislators who called for the phasing out of unskilled workers being sent abroad was Priyo Budi Santoso from the Golkar faction.

"In my opinion, the (practice) of sending women to work as domestic helpers abroad must be stopped," Priyo told The Jakarta Post after the hearing yesterday. He suggested, instead, that skilled workers such as nurses be sent abroad.

"We had asked the Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief to review (the ministry's policy on the export of domestic helpers) but we have yet to reach a similar view on this matter," he said.

Migrant workers reportedly contribute more than US$3.5 billion to the country annually.

Apjati data shows that 951,585 Indonesian workers have been legally sent to countries in the Asia Pacific, United States, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

In Yogyakarta, the Indonesia Lapera Association, a non- governmental organization for workers' welfare, protested yesterday Central Java Governor Suwardi's refusal to increase regional minimum wages.

"The fact is the workers are still in a weak position, and some fundamental changes should be made," said the chairman of the association, Dadang Juliantara.

Governor Soewardi refused to increase the wages of workers in Central Java from Rp 113,000 a month this year to Rp 130,000 a month next year, due to the monetary crisis.

Dadang said the reason was cliche, as the government had set an out-of-date yardstick with which to measure the workers' daily needs. (23/09)