RI looks for new export markets for its workers

RI looks for new export markets for its workers

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is hopeful it can expand its markets
beyond the traditional Middle East and Asian countries to export
its workers to, a government official says.

Suramsihono, president of the newly incorporated PT Binajasa
Abadikarya, told reporters yesterday that his company plans to
explore the potentials of even more distant markets.

"We will extend our market to advanced countries and other
developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America,"
Suramsihono said in announcing the launching of the operation of
the company, known in short as PT Bijak, beginning on Aug. 1.

The company was established by Minister of Manpower Abdul
Latief to bring to order the business of sending Indonesian
workers overseas, a lucrative business but a highly disordered
one.

One of the first priorities is to conduct a survey on
potential markets abroad, Suramsihono said. We want to know
first which countries are our potential markets and what kind of
skills are they looking for."

The company will also take the lead in the government's drive
to phase out the sending of unskilled workers and replace them
with people who have skills needed in the countries of
destination, he said.

PT Bijak is incorporated as a subsidiary of PT Astek, the
workers insurance company which is also administered by the
Ministry of Manpower.

Another task of the company is to professionalize the manpower
supplier companies, which have been the target of criticisms and
accused of leaving Indonesian workers stranded abroad and causing
misery.

Suramsihono said his company has fulfilled all administrative,
financial and organizational requirements needed to start its
operation as of Aug. 1.

Rp 12.5 billion

With an initial capital of Rp 12.5 billion ($5.9 million), the
company plans to introduce vocational training schemes for
Indonesian workers and also provide facilities to train
instructors for private manpower supplier companies.

Bijak has been authorized to utilize not only training centers
that are the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Manpower but also
those managed by the ministries of education and culture,
industry, and trade.

Coinciding with the launching of Bijak's operation, a
government ruling also comes into effect on Aug. 1 that compels
all manpower supplier companies to have a minimum paid up capital
of Rp 375 million each. Every company must also deposit Rp 75
million with a state bank as a bond to be used to bail out
workers who are stranded abroad.

So far, out of an original 300 manpower supplier firms
registered with the government, only 70 have complied with the
new regulation.

Suramsihono believes that the government's target of sending
1.25 million workers in the next five years is feasible.

This works out to 250,000 a year, and given 100 manpower
supplier firms, each is expected to send around 200 workers a
month, he said. (rms)