Minister annoyed by worker extortion

Minister annoyed by worker extortion

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The extortion of Indonesian migrant workers when they returned
home continued despite measures to curb the practice,
the minister responsible for their welfare told a House of
Representatives commission on Wednesday.

Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea
expressed his frustration to the Commission VI on labor and
social affairs, saying his efforts to stamp out the problem had
proved ineffectual.

"I understand the migrant workers' severe suffering --
suffering to find money to work overseas and suffering during
their employment abroad -- but I don't know how to do more," he
said.

Commission members grilled the minister over the widespread
extortion of workers returning home through Terminal III of the
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Tangerang.

They suggested the government close down the special terminal
and let workers return through ordinary passenger routes to
minimize the extortion.

Nuwa Wea said the local manpower and transmigration office and
many other officials were involved in handling workers at the
airport.

"Upon their arrival at the airport, workers without their
consent are faced with illegal brokers who, with falsified docu
ments, are there to fetch the workers. They then enter the immi
gration and excise checkpoints where they are often charged with
illegal levies...."

Migrant workers faced a series of extortion scams at the
special terminal and during trips to their home villages in Java
and West Nusa Tenggara, he said.

Some returning workers did not bring money because they were
repatriated after problems or illness during their employment
overseas.

Nuwa Wea said he was not to blame for the extortion because
officials from many other departments were involved.

"I won't give up and, therefore, I have taken action against
my subordinates and labor exporters found extorting workers.

"However, I cannot take similar actions against authorized
officers from the immigration office, police and PT Angkasa Pura
and the illegal brokers roaming the airport," he said.

Nuwa Wea rejected the commission's call to repatriate workers
through terminals used by ordinary passengers. This would only
increase the corruption, he said without elaborating.

He said his office in cooperation with security authorities
was preparing a special lounge in Ciracas, East Jakarta, to
replace the special terminal.

"Upon their arrival at the airport, migrant workers will be
directly transported to Ciracas where they will be allowed to
stay for several days before they continue their trip home in
special cars," he said.

He assured the commission he has gained nothing from labor
exports and his family was not involved in the business.

"My soul would not enter heaven if I received money from labor
exports," he said.

But a labor exporter who asked for anonymity said a son of
Nuwa Wea's was running a medical check-up counter at the special
terminal. The counter charged Rp 50,000 (US$6) for every
returning worker, he said.