Local labor unions to help protect RI workers overseas

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Labor Exporting Companies (Apjati) and 18 labor unions signed on Friday an unprecedented memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide protection and improve the bargaining position of Indonesian workers overseas.

Apjati chairman, Abdullah Umar, said that with the agreement the labor unions would be allowed to represent workers and prospective Indonesian migrant workers in negotiations with labor exporters and employers overseas.

"This agreement benefits not only workers but also labor contractors who have been blamed in problematic cases involving workers," he said after the signing ceremony here on Friday.

He added that labor unions should also be given responsibility for providing training programs for workers.

The unions include the Federation of All Indonesian Workers Unions (SPSI), the Reformed SPSI, the Indonesian Muslim Labor Union (Sarbumusi), Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), Indonesian Moslem Workers Union (SPMII) and the Confederation of Indonesian Labor Unions (Gaspermindo).

Muchtar Pakpahan, a labor activist and SBSI chairman, said that the SBSI was planning to assign four labor activists to Saudi Arabia to handle cases involving Indonesian workers in Middle Eastern countries.

"We have forged cooperation with the Confederation of Mideast Labor Unions to provide protection for Indonesian migrant workers under the ILO convention. And we have reached an agreement that allows our workers in that region to be associate members of the confederation," he said.

Muhammad Rodjak, Reformed SPSI chairman, said his labor union would collaborate with the Ministry of Manpower and Apjati to provide protection for workers from the time of their departure until their arrival back home.

"We will fight against labor brokers who have frequently extorted money from prospective Indonesian overseas workers and make sure that labor exporters stick to official procedures," he said.

Rodjak added that numerous workers were in trouble or involved in disputes with their employers because they lacked the necessary information and skills prior to their departure.

Asked to comment on the number of labor unions involved, Rodjak said this was expected to create better competition in attracting prospective workers as members and providing services to them.

"To me, it is better for all migrant workers from Indonesia to set up their own union overseas to improve their bargaining position," he said. (rms)