Firm sends 500 workers to Malaysia
By Ridwan M. Sijabat
SURABAYA (JP): PT Binajasa Abadikarya (Bijak), a new state- owned manpower supplier company, sent the first batch of 500 of the planned 17,000 Indonesian workers bound for Malaysia on Wednesday.
The 500, to be employed at rubber and palm oil plantations owned by the Malaysian government, are the first group of Indonesian workers who will be guaranteed their full rights equal to those enjoyed by local Malaysian workers.
This is the result of a bilateral arrangement signed between the two governments last August under which Malaysia has agreed to accept the sending of 17,000 Indonesian workers, arranged under the supervision of the Indonesian government.
The 500 workers were given a ceremonial send off at the Tanjung Perak port Wednesday, attended by senior government officials, as they left aboard the Athira passenger liner. They are expected to reach Malaysia within three days.
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief, who was originally slated to see them off, failed to attend. He was represented by his secretary general Baroto Sardadi.
Latief in his written speech read by Baroto reminded the workers to work hard, maintain discipline, observe the local laws and maintain the good image of Indonesia in Malaysia.
"You shouldn't whine like babies. You have a responsibility to develop your own capability and restrain from conduct that could tarnish the nation's good image," he said.
Latief said the policy of sending workers abroad brings a multitude of benefits to the country, including the easing of unemployment and generating income from foreign exchange. "That's why we consider you the nation's fighters."
Contract
The workers will be working under a two-year contract and will receive a monthly salary of 320 Malaysian ringgit (Rp 260,000). They will be given annual leave, housing and transportation allowances.
They are insured by three Indonesian insurance companies: PT Adisarana Wanaarta, PT Tata International General Insurance and PT Asuransi Tenaga Kerja (Astek).
The workers, whose ages range from 20 to 35, were recruited from West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, Yogyakarta and Central Java.
They will be employed at six of Malaysia's state-owned rubber and palm oil plantations: Federal Land Development Authority, Rubber Industry Small Horlder Development Authority, Johor Tenggara Oil Palm, Lembaga Kemajuan Trengganu Tengah, Far East Plantation Sdn. Bhd. and Federal Land Consolidated and Rehabilitation Authority.
Bijak President Soeramsihono said the company charges a Rp 850,000 recruitment fee for each worker sent, which will be deducted from their monthly salary over a 15-month period.
The branch offices of three Indonesian government banks -- Bank BNI, BBD and BRI -- will handle their financial affairs.
Director General for Immigration Roni Sikap Sunaraya said his office only charges Rp 25,000 for issuing their travel papers. The government waived the Rp 250,000 exit tax normally imposed on Indonesians leaving the country.
Syed Mestaddin, minister counselor of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, said the workers will be given two weeks of training and adaption before they begin working. (rms)