RI stops sending workers to Middle East countries

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta,  Tue, 05/22/2012

Muhaimin Iskandar: (JP/Berto Wedhatama)

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar says Indonesia is imposing a moratorium on the travel of Indonesian migrant workers to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Syria indefinitely.

"We won't lift the moratorium as long as our workers abroad have yet to see more certain policies regarding legal protections and the fulfillment of their basic rights," Muhaimin said, as quoted by Antara news agency, on the sidelines of a meeting with families of migrant workers in Tulungagung, East Java, on Monday evening.

Muhaimin said his ministry was concerned that many Indonesian workers were implicated in legal cases in those countries, but stopped short of detailing the exact numbers.

However, he claimed that his ministry has been trying to lobby the relevant authorities to demand more protections, social guarantees and safety assurance for Indonesian workers, but so far the efforts have yet to achieve any significant outcome.

Muhaimin compared the slow progress with the Middle Eastern states to new deals reached between the Malaysian and Indonesian governments.

He said the Malaysian authorities have allowed Indonesian workers one day off each week, granted a minimum wage of 800 ringgit (US$256) and ensured they get to keep their own passports while working.

"We are about to lift the ban for Malaysia, but so far no private agencies here have started sending workers to Malaysia," he said.