'Stop levies on migrant workers'

'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