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)