Malaysian, S'porean bosses raise wages of RI workers
Malaysian, S'porean bosses raise wages of RI workers
JAKARTA (JP): Malaysian and Singaporean employment agencies
finally agreed yesterday to raise the minimum wages of Indonesian
workers hired in their countries.
In a three-day meeting, which concluded yesterday,
representatives of Singaporean and Malaysian employment agencies
discussed ways to provide better treatment for and promote the
welfare of Indonesian workers employed in the two countries.
The Indonesian Association of Worker Export Companies was also
included in the meeting, pressing for the wage increases which it
said were in line with the government policy to phase out the
export of unskilled labors and phase in skilled workers.
Deputy chairman of the association Anthon Sihombing told The
Jakarta Post that the minimum wage level for Indonesian workers
in Malaysia would be raised from 300 ringgit (US$125) to 350
ringgit (US$145) per month.
The monthly minimum wage of Indonesian workers in Singapore
will be raised to S$250 (US$192) from S$220 (US$169) to S$250.
The agreement will be effective as of July 1 in Malaysia and
as of Oct. 1 in Singapore, Sihombing said after the closing of
the meeting.
"Our worker export companies will spend more to train workers,
so, understandably, workers should get better payment, and the
government income from this sector will also be higher," he said.
The Singaporean and Malaysian employment agencies demanded
yesterday that Indonesia keep its promise of sending only skilled
workers.
Ismail Sutan, leader of the Malaysian delegation to the
meeting, said that employers in his country had no objection to
raising the minimum wages, provided the workers meet their
standard.
Elsie Loy, owner of an employment agency in Singapore, said
employers in her country also demand that their workers speak
English well. The lack of this communication skill, she said, is
the reason why many Indonesian housekeepers cannot find
employment in Singapore.
Indonesian Labor Attache in Kuala Lumpur, Abdul Karim, said
that all Indonesian workers employed in Malaysia are already
protected by the laws there and covered by social security
insurance.
"Most of the Indonesian workers who get into trouble there are
those who entered the country illegally," he said.
Suryanto, a diplomatic staffer at the Indonesian Embassy in
Singapore, said, however, that "all complaints about workers and
labor disputes between workers and their employers have always
been handled properly."
He said the laws in Singapore adequately protected foreign
workers. "Foreign workers in Singapore are treated as well as the
local workers," Suryanto said.
The number of Indonesian workers in Malaysia has reached
around 600,000, while Singapore is home to more than 30,000.
(rms)