RI stops sending workers to Singapore indefinitely

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Manpower has stopped the sending of migrant workers to Singapore for an indefinite period, until labor supply firms are able to make clear the protection of workers there, Antara reported Friday.

The news agency reported that meanwhile five women were taking refuge at the Indonesian embassy pending their lawsuits against their employers for rape.

The Director General of Labor Placement at the Ministry, Din Syamsuddin, was quoted as saying in Singapore that three months ago he had instructed labor supply firms to stop their services to Singapore "until workers' rights and protection were clear."

Din's visit to Singapore was his last leg on a tour to five Asian countries to seek opportunities for Indonesian workers with 20 labor supply firms. These were South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia as well as Singapore.

Speaking at the embassy in Singapore, he was accompanied by Indonesian envoy HBL Mantiri, representatives of 10 labor supply firms and the director for economic and technical cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fauzi Gani.

Din said despite his instruction to stop sending workers to Singapore three months ago, workers were still flowing in, mainly through Batam and the Riau coast it was believed.

At the embassy he met with the five workers. One said she had been raped by her employer's son while the rest said they had been raped by their employers.

Presently 22 migrant workers, all female, are taking refuge at the embassy, including those who have reported physical abuse by employers.

Ambassador Mantiri acknowledged funds needed for the handling of many migrants' cases including costs for accommodation for those seeking refuge there. He was responding to rumors that workers were charged S$80 per person by the embassy, the agency reported. However the envoy said all payments were reported to the state treasury.

Din acknowledged that several cases of migrants in trouble such as those found at the Singapore embassy could be traced to lack of preparation of migrants regarding their jobs and conditions in their host countries.

The ministry, he said, will shortly require contracts to be signed by workers and employers which would be legalized by the government's representatives in host countries. (anr)