RI migrant workers neglected

RI migrant workers neglected

JAKARTA: The government was criticized on Tuesday for its
sluggishness in handling the many problems faced by Indonesian
workers overseas.

The former chairman of the Association of Indonesian Workers'
Exporters (Apjati), Abdullah Umar, said many mistreated workers
forced to seek temporary shelter at the Indonesian embassy in
Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah, for example, were badly in
need of protection funds.

Abdullah said the funds were already there to help deal with
the problems.

"But the government is slow in setting up the crisis center to
settle the workers' problems in line with a joint agreement
signed by five Indonesian ministers," he said.

Apjati has managed to gather at least Rp 3.4 billion (US$3.2
million) in protection funds, which have been collected at $11
per worker per month since October, 2001, he said.

Abdullah questioned the Ministry of Manpower and
Transmigration's resolve to deal with the problem. "The workers
cannot wait much longer as they need food and their cases dealt
with quickly," he said.

Labor exporting companies, especially those sending workers to
Saudi Arabia, had collected the $11 fund from each worker per
month as a protection fund levy from wages. Those working in the
informal sector, particularly housemaids, were a priority,
Abdullah said. -- Antara