RI workers in Malaysia

RI workers in Malaysia

It is reported that 6,000 Indonesian illegal workers are
imprisoned in Malaysia. They were sent to Malaysia by labor
exporting companies which allegedly often violate regulations.

With 422,000 Indonesian workers in Malaysia, the country is
one of the biggest recipients of Indonesian workers.

Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief figured that the state could
reap hundreds of dollars if workers exporting companies were
managed professionally.

A total of 630,000 workers went abroad during the Five-Year
Development Plan of 1989 to 1994, enriching state coffers by US$1
billion. Another 2.5 million workers are expected to go abroad
during 1994 to 1999 and will contribute $3 billion to the state.

The potential income from organizing the export of huge
numbers of workers has driven certain export workers companies to
extort money from the workers.

The government has taken various measures to remedy this
situation, including cooperating with the Malaysian government to
protect Indonesian workers there.

Nevertheless, the report that thousands of workers are
imprisoned in Malaysia is heartbreaking and the Ministry of
Manpower should clarify this report and search for the root of
the problem.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta