Firm sends 500 workers to Malaysia

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)