RI worker jailed in Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA: The non-governmental organization Migrant Care has asked the government to file a diplomatic note to protest the imprisonment of an Indonesian migrant worker in Saudi Arabia.

The NGO said in a statement the worker, Nurmiati of Sumbawa island in West Nusa Tenggara, was jailed despite having been abused by her employer.

A Saudi daily, Arab News, reported that Crown Prince Abdullah had ordered the health minister to treat Nurmiati. But the NGO said that instead of receiving medication, she was transferred to a special prison for women.

"The Indonesian Embassy has questioned the transfer, but the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration has not responded to the matter positively," Migrant Care said. "This reflects the ministry's lack of commitment to protecting migrant workers." -- JP