Government tightens rules on sending workers abroad
Government tightens rules on sending workers abroad
JAKARTA (JP): Alarmed by reports about Indonesian workers
being abused overseas, the government is clamping down on
companies which send workers abroad.
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief yesterday gave out 13
licenses for manpower supplier companies, the first issued since
he issued a new regulation in August compelling companies to
raise their levels of capital and to reregister.
He is withholding the permits from another 45 applicants until
he is sure that the workers they send abroad will not be
subjected to poor treatment.
"We have stiff requirements in exporting goods, like textile.
So why not manpower? Every day we read newspaper reports on the
need to protect the workers," Latief told journalists after
presenting operation licenses to the 13 manpower suppliers whose
applications have been approved.
Many manpower suppliers have been established "without good
intentions" and are "dishonest", he said.
Before he revamped the regulations in August, 302 manpower
supplier companies were registered with the ministry. "But the
addresses of about half of them were not known," Latief said.
Director General for Manpower Placement Abdul Rachim said only
85 of the 302 registered companies have come forward to have
their permits renewed. Besides these firms, there were 16 new
companies forwarding their applications.
Latief said he was withholding the licenses of the 45
companies because they did not meet the administrative
requirements.
Rachim said that once issued, the licenses will be effective
as long as the companies abide by the regulations.
On the same occasion, Latief signed a memorandum of
understanding with the Trade Management Development Institute, a
consultant company hired by the government to provide management
training for executives of manpower supplier companies. The
institute is led by former trade minister Rachmat Saleh.
Under the three-year agreement, the institute will work on the
marketing development of the placement of Indonesian workers
abroad and the management of manpower suppliers.
The institute also has been asked to draw up a master plan for
a national program for the placement of Indonesian workers
abroad.
Commenting on the case of Indonesian female workers in
Malaysia who were forced into prostitution and pregnancy, Latief
said the government had revoked the licenses of the two manpower
suppliers involved in the case and had reported the companies to
the police.
Rachim said that the directors of the companies were still at
large. "We have not found them, but police are now handling the
case."
According to Rachim, the women went to Malaysia without any
working permits.
Earlier reports said that at least 13 female workers had been
forced to become sex workers and were prevented from using
contraceptives. Three of them had delivered babies, which were
taken away from the mothers soon after birth. The infants were
sold for the equivalent of Rp 6.5 million for a boy and Rp 4.3
million for a girl, Antara reported.
Rachim confirmed that five of the women had returned to
Indonesia, but refused to elaborate, saying the manpower ministry
was still waiting for more reports from the Indonesian Embassy in
Malaysia.
In order to provide more legal protection for Indonesian
workers in Malaysia, the government is considering hiring foreign
lawyers to help resolve labor disputes, Latief said. "We are
arranging this matter with Malaysia."
Latief said most Indonesian workers are ignorant about their
rights and this has left them open to abuse by brokers and
employers overseas.
He also warned that many Indonesian workers who left without
going through the proper channels would likely have problems.
"They were not patient. They just left."
It is estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 Indonesians
are working in Malaysia illegally.
Indonesia is determined to phase out the sending of unskilled
workers abroad gradually. By 1999, only skilled workers will be
sent abroad, Latief said. (sim)