RI stops sending workers to Singapore indefinitely

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)