Manpower minister asked resign for failing to protect workers

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives leadership demanded on Wednesday the resignation of Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea for his failure to protect the country's migrant workers.

House Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar said the minister was considered to be unable to cope with this issue, as shown by the repeated cases of abuse against Indonesian workers overseas.

"The House leaders suggest that the minister resign if he cannot prove he is capable of tackling these problems. The President should replace him with a more qualified figure," Muhaimin said after a meeting of House leaders.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung of Golkar presided over the meeting, which also was attended by his deputies Tosari Widjaja of the United Development Party (PPP) and Muhaimin of the National Awakening Party (PKB).

The two other deputy speakers, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and AM Fatwa of the National Mandate Party (PAN), did not attend the meeting.

Nuwa Wea is a former PDI Perjuangan legislator and still helms the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI).

The appointment and dismissal of Cabinet ministers is the prerogative of the president, according to the Constitution. During her 27-month term, President Megawati Soekarnoputri has never heeded demands for the dismissal of an aide.

The meeting also recommended that the government halt the export of women migrant workers.

The meeting followed a visit by Muhaimin to the Soekanto Police Hospital in East Jakarta on Tuesday, where 15 female migrant workers have been treated over the last two weeks since their arrival home from the Middle East.

Some of the women said they were sexually abused and others claimed to have been physically abused.

Muhaimin said the abuse of Indonesian workers overseas was a disgrace to the whole nation.

"Sending more workers overseas is a reckless decision. The government only seeks money from them without providing them protection," he said.

The mistreatment of the 15 migrant workers sparked nationwide criticism of the government, the most widespread outcry since hundreds of thousands of undocumented Indonesian workers fled Malaysia in August last year after Kuala Lumpur enacted a strict immigration law.

Vice President Hamzah Haz defended the policy of exporting migrant workers, saying the government was unable to provide them with jobs at home.

"Although there have been some violations and abuse of Indonesian workers, the benefits of sending workers overseas outweigh the disadvantages," Hamzah said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said he had discussed the issue with visiting Saudi Arabian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Namlah in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Al-Namlah expressed disappointment with the media coverage of the abuse, saying only 400 of 330,000 Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia, or 0.12 percent, had reported incidents of serious abuse.