ILO addresses abuse of RI's workers

ILO addresses abuse of RI's workers

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The International Labor Organization (ILO) launched a report on
Wednesday, which for the first time presents comprehensive global
and regional data on forced labor and call for a global alliance
to eliminate the practice.

Lotte Kecser, chief technical advisor of ILO Jakarta, said
here on Tuesday that the report was part of the global movement
against forced labor that was designed as a follow up to the
Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights in the Work
Place.

"The 87-page report will contain results of comprehensive and
detailed analysis of forced labor. The studies present a
preliminary assessment of forced labor, numbers of forced
laborers, the number of victims of human trafficking and
financial advantages of employing traded workers," she said.

Lotte asserted that the report was relevant for Indonesia
because a part of it was based on case studies in Indonesia and
on Indonesian migrant workers employed in Singapore.

She said the elimination of forced labor in Indonesia faced
challenges because of unsettled core problems such as poverty and
backwardness.

"Millions of people in Indonesia have been trapped into forced
labor because they face serious economic problems. They are
forced to work and are physically abused during their employment
because they are not educated, are not skilled and are lacking
information.

"Minimum standards that should be set by a global alliance are
badly needed to provide protection for domestic workers and
immigrants employed overseas," she said.

Former President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid concurred and
said the employment of domestic workers in Indonesia was a form
of slavery, which is against the amended 1945 Constitution and
against human rights.

"Most domestic workers employed in families have always been
employed more than the recommended eight hours per day and even
until late at night. They have no day off and their salaries are
often withheld until the Idul Fitri holidays at which time they
are allowed to return home. They are not insured and do not
receive health care when they are sick either," he said.

He said the worst negative impact of forced labor was the fact
that many domestic workers fell victim to abuse and rape by their
employers.

Lack of skills and language constraints have been blamed for
the widespread incidence of abuse against Indonesian workers
employed overseas.