Police curb extortion of workers

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Migrant workers returning from overseas may benefit from a new scheme introduced by the airport police at Soekarno-Hatta International under which they can deposit their money at state- owned Bank BNI prior to leaving the airport so as to prevent them being extorted by officials.

Police claim that around 80 percent of more than 1.2 million migrant workers are availing of the scheme.

"The root of the crimes against migrant workers is the money they are carrying with them from overseas. Unscrupulous officials then attempt to get their hands on this money," the airport police chief, Comr. Sri Suari Wahyudi, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

"The crimes range from airport bus crews demanding cigarette money, people forcing the workers to change their money at very low rates, to strangers forcing them to buy electronic goods at very high prices, as well as outright robbery," she said.

The policy was introduced in September last year. Suari said the reason that Bank BNI had been selected was simply because it was the only bank in the airport's Terminal III, which is only used for handling returning migrant workers.

The police were granted a contract to transport migrant workers from the airport to their hometowns after two companies that previously provided the service were found guilty of extorting the workers.

Siti Rohmah, 33, a migrant worker from Tasikmalaya, West Java, told the Post that she had deposited almost all her money in the bank and only carried around Rp 200,000 (US$23.53) with her on the way home.

"It's much more practical and much safer. I just brought enough money in case I needed to buy something on the way home. As for the money I've deposited, I can withdraw it from the bank's branch in my hometown," she said.

Indonesian migrant workers contributed US$1 billion in foreign exchange earnings last year. This year, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea estimated that the contribution would reach $5.2 billion due to the increasing number of workers seeking employment abroad.

Policewomen have been deployed in Terminal III to inform the workers of the new scheme. They also provide police contact numbers to workers before they leave the airport.

Workers refusing to deposit their money in the bank must sign a statement saying that they fully understand the risks of not doing so.

"If they report an instance of extortion, we won't follow up on this as they have already signed the statement. But if they encounter physical abuse, we will pursue the matter," Suari said.

She admitted that complaints from migrant workers had helped police to arrest those responsible for extorting the workers.

The government has been condemned for the weak protection it provides to migrant workers, who often suffer harsh mistreatment at the hands of their employers. The minister himself has promised to provide them with maximum protection, especially considering the revenue they provide to the state.