More groups protest labor bill
More groups protest labor bill
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
More women's groups demanded on Friday that the House of
Representatives delay the endorsement of the migrant workers'
protection bill as it did not include protection of undocumented
workers, who make up the bulk of Indonesians employed overseas.
National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas
Perempuan) chairwoman Kamala Chandrakirana said the bill
neglected the fact that illegal migrant workers were actually
victims who still deserved government protection.
"Regardless of the status of their documents or their
competency, migrant workers are human beings who deserve
respectful treatment and have the right to protection from all
types of abuse from their agencies or employers.
"And that's where the government should come in as it has the
duty to keep its citizens safe and well while working outside the
country," said Kamala.
The bill says protection will be given to migrant workers
whose "legal documents meet requirements set by the government."
Member of the Consortium for the Protection of Rights of
Migrant Workers (KOPBUMI) Suprihartin sided with Kamala, saying
that migrant workers needed to pay extra fees to receive
protection from the government.
"Isn't it absurd? It's explicitly written in the bill that
migrant workers have to pay certain fees before they are able to
receive protection from the government," said Suprihartin, known
as Tina.
Article 79 of the bill says migrant workers have to pay fees
for documents, medical tests and certificates of competency.
Article 63 and 87 stipulate that migrant workers have to pay
fees for training and protection, respectively.
Meanwhile, article 9 of the bill says Indonesian migrant
workers are subject to service fees and placement fees.
"Should they refuse to pay any of those fees, they will be
punished, such as a cancellation of their work contract and
deportation at their own cost. And they will not receive any
protection," Tina said during a press conference.
She added that the women's groups did not encourage illegal
migrant workers, but they still wanted them to be protected.
Kamala agreed with Tina, saying the government-sponsored bill
focused too much on placement of migrant workers rather than
protecting them.
"Therefore, we call on the House and the government to
postpone the endorsement of the bill as it needs reviewing," said
Kamala.
Komnas Perempuan and KOPBUMI will organize a peace rally in
various cities, including Jakarta, Makassar, Palembang and
Lampung simultaneously on Monday to raise public awareness of the
flawed bill.
The House has planned to endorse the bill before its current
term ends on Sept. 30.