House urged to help reform labor export procedure
House urged to help reform labor export procedure
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Labor Supplying Companies
(Apjati) urged the House of Representatives to press the
government to reform the labor export procedure which it
described as ineffective and unfair.
"Apjati needs political support from the House to force a
reform of the labor export procedure if we are determined to
develop this sector and solve the unemployment problem," Husein
A. Alaydrus, Apjati chairman told a hearing with the House
Commission VII for labor and social welfare here on Wednesday.
He said it was not fair at all to blame labor exporters for
the troubles plaguing Indonesian workers overseas while the
government has never anticipated the sorts of incidents that
migrant workers may experience.
"Many Indonesian migrant workers have troubles with their
employers due to their lack of skills, a serious problem that
should be blamed on the government rather than labor exporters,"
he said.
Citing the Constitution, he said the government was obliged to
provide education and vocational training for job seekers.
The latest data shows that almost half of around 4 million
Indonesian workers overseas are elementary school graduates and
dropouts from remote areas.
Husein further criticized the Ministry of Manpower and
Transmigration for issuing controversial regulations on labor
exports.
"The replacement of ministers and other high ranking officials
at the ministry has brought changes in regulations concerning
labor contracts, legal protection for workers and their
transportation to and from their home villages," he said.
He wondered why over the last decade three companies and a
consortium had been appointed to run insurance programs for
workers and why a lot of transportation companies had been named
to take workers home upon arrival at airports.
He also questioned a ruling which obliges a migrant worker to
pay US$20 to the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration and
another $11 in protection fees to Indonesian embassies in the
countries where they are employed. Husein said so far the funds
collected from the levies had never been used to handle troubled
workers.
He said the manpower ministry should strengthen its
coordination with the foreign ministry, the home affairs and
regional autonomy ministry, the Immigration Office and the
National Police to help job seekers who wish to work overseas,
instead of extorting them. (rms)