Child labor continues in N. Sumatra, says NGO

Apriadi Gunawan and Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan

Despite the campaign against child labor and the observance of National Children's Day on July 23, a non-governmental organization in Medan recently reported that 11 children were employed at eight jermal (fish traps) in Beting Bawal, Asahan regency, North Sumatra.

The child laborers, between the ages of 11 and 17, have been employed at the fish traps for between one month and four months.

The secretary of the Center for Child Protection (PKPA), Ahmad Sofian, said the children worked alongside adults but received less money for their labor.

"They are forced to work between 12 hours and 16 hours a day and they are not allowed to communicate with people on land. Sometimes they have to wake up at dawn to put out their nets. But they are paid only about Rp 200,000 (US$20) a month. Some of the children look malnourished since they only get two meals a day.

"In our interview with them, the child laborers said they were always very cold in the morning because they were not dressed properly," he said.

Sofian said the child laborers came from remote villages in the province. "They are the victims of deceit by brokers who promised them good jobs with good pay."

The employment of children on jermal has become a growing problem as the provincial government has issued more permits to businesspeople in order to boost the fisheries industry.

Jermal catch thousands of tons of teri fish that are sold for between Rp 30,000 and Rp 50,000 per kilogram in traditional markets.

According to PKPA's 2004 data, at least 38 children were employed in 81 jermal along the province's east coast.

The child labor issue in North Sumatra has been in the spotlight since a number of sexual abuse cases were uncovered on jermal.

This new finding contradicts a recent statement by Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris that no more children were working on jermal thanks to the cooperation between the government and the International Labor Organization office in Jakarta.