Govt, exporters at odds on RI workers in Middle East

Ridwan Max Sijabat The Jakarta Post Jakarta

The increasing cases of violence against Indonesian migrant workers employed in Middle Eastern countries apparently has much to do with the disorganized labor export program, for which Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea and labor exporters blame one another.

Expressing his deep disappointment with the poor performance of labor export companies on Tuesday during his visit to Jordan, Nuwa Wea said he would revoke the licenses of labor export companies that violate proper procedure.

He also said he would file an official complaint with the National Police against unauthorized companies and individuals who sent workers illegally to the region.

"Licensed labor exporters that infringe labor export procedures will certainly lose their license and their companies liquidated, while unlicensed companies that supply workers illegally will be facing human trafficking or smuggling charges," he said during a dialog with the Indonesian community, including 16 workers who have been stranded at the Indonesian Embassy in Jordan for illegal entry.

Nuwa Wea, who, along with several legislators, labor exporters and other government officials, is on a state visit to look at employment conditions of Indonesian workers in the Middle East, said it was not a mystery that many workers were mistreated because their placement and employment were not managed either legally or professionally.

"Many workers have been mistreated and underpaid because they are employed illegally. Troubles have developed with their employers because they have been placed and employed without any job training in Indonesia.

"Many others are even tortured and raped because they are still young and are not skilled in defending themselves from such abuse," he said, citing a ministerial decree that regulated the minimum age of labor exports to the Middle East at 25 years.

He said it was difficult to ask foreign countries to treat Indonesian workers humanely if labor exporters and the government apparatus did not provide a good reason.

The 20 companies facing license revocation are: PT Irfan Jaya Saputra, PT Sinar Mandiri, PT Arsyad, PT Ifwikon Jasindo, PT Wadi Lesar Jaya, PT Sinar Kasih Soroako, PT Pikotama Bina Terampil, PT Safarindo Indo Corpora, PT Rekan Wahana Mulia, PT Amil Fajar Internasional, PT Megah Utama Kriya Nugraha, PT Graha Indohiwana, PT Adi Santa Kencana Mas, PT ABRI, PT Asfrida Family, PT Mega Untaian, PT Amira Prima, PT Dewi Moro Langgeng, PT Pira Suka and PT Amanah Sejahtera.

Last year, the government came under fire when more than 120 Indonesian workers, mostly women, died and many others were physically and sexually abused, even tortured, during their employment in the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. Over the last two months, at least six workers, all female, have died after allegedly meeting with occupational accidents and contracting fatal diseases in Saudi Arabia.

Local non-governmental organizations have called on the House of Representatives and the government to speed up the deliberation of the bill on overseas labor protection and heighten services at Indonesian diplomatic missions to provide protection for migrant workers.

Meanwhile, labor exporters have called on the government to take account for the mismanaged labor export sector, because it was the government's responsibility to regulate labor export procedures and to supervise their implementation.

"It is the government's fault for licensing almost 500 labor export companies and for failing to closely monitor the business. The ministry should not allow workers overseas before they have received the necessary training, and it should impose harsh sanctions against unauthorized labor exporters and brokers," Deputy Chairman Anthon Sihombing of the Labor Recruitment Agencies Association (PJTKI) told The Jakarta Post.

He said revamping the labor export should begin with the government, especially at the manpower ministry, the immigration office, the police and the military, and finally, labor exporters.

Please, insert data on 2003 labor export from Ayi