'Stop levies on migrant workers'

JAKARTA: A labor recruitment association urged the government on Tuesday to stop the collection of levies on prospective migrant workers who it said were already economically burdened by the recent fuel price hikes.

The Asia-Pacific Labor Exporter Association (Ajaspac) said many workers have been complaining about a number of levies imposed by the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration before their departure abroad.

"Before their departure, workers have been charged to pay for an overseas working card (KTKLN), pre-departure course and an online information system. These levies have put an extra burden on amid the fuel price increases," Ajaspac spokesman Halomoan Hutapea said.

Halomoan said workers have been charged Rp 60,000 (US$6) each to obtain overseas working cards, Rp 50,000 for the pre-departure training course and between Rp 10,000 and Rp 15,000 for membership of the online information system.

He said labor exporters have also had to pay many illegal levies for workers. --JP