Migrant workers big money for the state
Migrant workers big money for the state
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian migrant workers have rewarded the government's failure
to protect and defend them with a whopping US$1 billion in
foreign exchange earnings this year alone.
Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea
estimated on Friday the contribution from the neglected workers
to state revenue would reach $5.2 billion in 2003 due to the
increasing number of workers seeking employment abroad.
The latest data issued by the ministry revealed there were
465,485 workers, mostly unskilled, who were placed overseas, more
than 37 percent up from the 2001 figure of 338,992.
Since 2000, the migrant workers have brought $3.2 billion in
foreign exchange into the country.
The actual number of migrant workers is believed to be much
higher as hundreds of thousands more work overseas without work
permits.
Considering the increase in the state revenue from migrant
workers, Jacob pledged to provide them with maximum protection,
mainly through the bill on migrant workers' protection and
placement.
The bill, sponsored by the House of Representatives, is listed
as one of bills to be deliberated.
"Once we endorse the bill we will curb the problems currently
facing our migrant workers," Jacob said.
Jacob issued a ministerial decree earlier this year which
places the burden on labor recruitment companies to protect
migrant workers while they are employed overseas. The obligation
will be shifted to the government when the workers arrive home.
The decree, however, has not been effective due to the absence
of supporting regulations and operational guidelines.
Indonesian migrant workers have faced abuse and extortion,
particularly those who work abroad illegally. There are many
reports of Indonesian women who work as domestic helpers overseas
who are beaten or raped by their employers.
A human tragedy involving the country's migrant workers took
place this year when some 300,000 Illegal Indonesians workers
were expelled from Malaysia following a new immigration act which
came to effect on Aug. 1. Most of the workers, along with their
families, streamed into the tiny island of Nunukan in East
Kalimantan near the Malaysian border.
Dozens of the returning migrants died from various diseases on
their way and upon arrival at Nunukan. The government were slow
to assist the struggling workers and their families.
Critics said the tragedy could have been avoided had the
government taken action earlier as Malaysia had given advance
warning of the tough immigration law long before it took effect.
Malaysia has absorbed most of Indonesia's migrant workers, who
are mainly employed in construction projects and plantations.
The Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration recorded that as
of November 232,614 Indonesian migrant workers were employed in
the Middle East and Africa, an almost 92 percent increase
compared to last year.
Saudi Arabia remains the most favored destination, followed by
Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan. In Saudi Arabia
alone there are over 206,000 Indonesians working there,
An increase was also seen in the number of migrant workers
leaving to work in the Asia Pacific region from 217,555 to
232,770 people and to Europe from 29 to 68.