Problem of migrant workers
Problem of migrant workers
From Media Indonesia
Frequently occurring problems related to Indonesian migrant workers are a dilemma. It often happens that cases involving these migrant workers are not thoroughly settled because information about these workers, while still at home and abroad, is not adequately disseminated.
We have often been shocked by problems encountered by Indonesian migrant workers abroad. The cases become more heart- rending as the tragic fate befalling these migrant workers often does not reach us until the "final" stage, or, in other words, the problem will attract public attention only when the workers concerned are awaiting their execution or when the execution has been carried out.
If we trace the process that prospective migrant workers have to go through before they are finally accepted to work overseas, we can understand the extent of their sacrifice in terms of time, energy and many other things. As employment opportunities at home are becoming more and more scarce, prospective migrant workers, prompted by their economic needs, will always jump at the opportunity to work abroad, especially if they are lured with high pay. Most prospective migrant workers will not hesitate to borrow money at an interest rate higher than usual, or sell their belongings to raise money, strongly hoping that working overseas will economically change their lives for the better. Once they get a job overseas, they can start paying back their loans, or buy whatever they have sold to enable them to get this job.
Prior to their departure for where they will be employed, these migrant workers are also psychologically burdened. If, for example, the labor-exporting company arranging their overseas employment cancels their departure abroad, they will not only suffer material losses but will feel too ashamed to return to their own villages, especially if they have borrowed money from fellow villagers. This will give rise to new problems, among other things going abroad through a broker.
The mechanism stipulated in the regulation on workers wishing to go abroad is clear enough. However, things are different in practice.
The regulation stipulates, for example, that in recruiting prospective migrant workers, an Indonesian labor-exporting company must fulfill certain requirements, some of which are given below: - the identity and the minimum age of a prospective migrant worker; - full information for the prospective migrant worker about the conditions/cultural environment and about legislation prevailing in the country of destination; - the provision of job education/training at a job training center (BLK) in accordance with the type of skill needed abroad; - medical checkup for a prospective migrant worker, payment of workers' insurance and so forth.
What often happens is that the identity of a prospective migrant worker to be sent abroad is faked so that when this migrant worker has a problem abroad, his/her data will be difficult to find. As a result, the settlement of his/her problem can be delayed or even no thorough solution can be found. In view of all this, no defense can be extended to Indonesian migrant workers who happen to be involved in problems abroad.
CITRAWATI SOEKASAH
Chairperson of South Jakarta branch
executive board of the
Association of Indonesian Lawyers
(Ikadin), Jakarta