Govt warns against abuses in labor export

Govt warns against abuses in labor export

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief warned labor
export companies against committing any more violations,
announcing stiffer measures in response to abuses.

In a ceremony marking the issuance of new licenses for 69
labor export companies here yesterday, Latief said that
violations, which often have fatal consequences on the workers,
were still rampant. The ministry, however, was ready to revoke
the licenses of companies found to be guilty, he pointed out.

"Many companies are still violating procedures of labor export
overseas," he said, though failing to name the offenders.

Among the violations the companies conducted were the
recruiting and sending abroad of untrained workers, and the
falsification of workers' identities to expedite their entrance
to importing countries. There are countries which receive only
workers of certain religions, for instance, and so the companies
falsify data about the workers' faiths.

"These practices must be stopped," Latief said.

Latief said a team has been set up to evaluate the performance
of the labor export companies. The team is authorized to initiate
legal actions against violators.

Procedures

The ministry recently tightened procedures for the sending of
Indonesian workers abroad by issuing a decree which named a
number of conditions a company has to comply with before it can
operate.

In addition to possessing a new license and strong management,
companies are required to set up mechanisms which provide workers
with legal protection.

The booming markets for Indonesian workers in some foreign
countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia, bring
adverse consequences such as mistreatment of workers on the part
of employers. Reports of rape or abuse of workers were rampant,
and analysts and activists alike have complained that many of the
workers lack legal protection.

With yesterday's issuance of new permits, the total number of
labor export companies with new licenses is 154.

Anthon Sihombing, deputy chairman of the Association of
Indonesian Labor Export Companies (APJATI) welcomed the issuance
of new licenses.

The additional licensees would help spur competition among the
labor export companies, especially on service, training and
protection for workers, he said.

So far this year, Indonesia has exported over 255,000 workers.
The figure exceeded the targeted 230,000 for the 1995-96 fiscal
year. Forty percent of the workers are skilled.

The government has vowed to phase out the sending of unskilled
workers abroad. Starting from 1998, Indonesia hopes to send only
trained and skilled workers.

The campaign aimed at not only improving the image and welfare
of Indonesian workers abroad, but also at increasing foreign
exchange revenues through the repatriation of their earnings.

It was in this context that Latief yesterday made a fresh call
on the companies to provide workers with adequate training prior
to their departure.

The minister said that the government had every interest to
improve the labor export program because not only it helps
increase foreign exchange, it also eases unemployment problems at
home. (rms)