Soeharto tells embassies to protect RI workers

Soeharto tells embassies to protect RI workers

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on all Indonesian
embassies yesterday to protect Indonesian workers abroad and to
extend assistance whenever required.

Opening a national working conference organized by the
Ministry of Manpower, Soeharto said the ministry as well as the
Indonesian embassies abroad should pay greater attention to the
condition of Indonesian workers overseas.

"I am asking (you) to pay more attention to the fate of
Indonesian workers by continually monitoring their condition and
giving help whenever they are in trouble," he said in keynote
address at the opening ceremony at the State Palace.

As the number of Indonesians seeking employment overseas
grows, there are now concerns about their condition and their
lack of protection in the countries where they reside.

At the last official count, there were an estimated 700,000
Indonesians working overseas, with Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and
Singapore among the most popular destinations.

There have been reports of Indonesian workers abroad being
exploited by their employers. The low skill and education
background of the majority of Indonesian workers have made them
easy prey for exploitation.

Last year, an Indonesian woman worker employed as a domestic
helper in Singapore died. Police said she committed suicide but
her family in Indonesia remains unconvinced. Early this year, two
Indonesian workers were beheaded in Saudi Arabia after they were
found guilty of killing their Arab employer.

On both occasions, concerns were raised about the degree of
help that the Indonesian embassies in the two countries provided.

Soeharto stressed the importance of Indonesia continuing with
the program of sending workers abroad to help alleviate the high
unemployment problem at home.

But he said that Indonesia should send only skilled workers
because the nation's image is at stake.

"All this requires good planning," he added.

Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief early this week announced
his plan to summon a number of Indonesian ambassadors to Jakarta
to discuss ways of enhancing their protection.

Soeharto said in his speech that one of the biggest problems
Indonesia faces is providing employment for its ever-growing
ranks of workers.

Officials estimate that each year, more than two million new
job seekers join the labor market.

"I hope the national manpower planning and the integrated
labor information data base which are now being developed by the
government will be completed soon," Soeharto said, adding that
these are expected to help reduce unemployment.

He called for greater coordination between government agencies
in tackling the unemployment problem.

Officially the level of unemployment is estimated at around
three percent of the work force. Officials acknowledge, however,
that the actual level could be as high as 30 percent.(rms)