ID :
69686
Thu, 07/09/2009 - 23:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/69686
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News Focus: GOVT ADVISED NOT TO LIFT WORKERS' DESPATCH MORATORIUM IMMEIDATELY
By Eliswan Azly
Jakarta, July 9 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has been urged not to immediately meet Malaysia's request for the lifting of a moratorium on the dispatch of Indonesian informal sector workers to the neighboring country.
Anis Hidayah, director of Indonesia Migrant Care, said here on Thursday the government should not abruptly end the moratorium until the revision of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) promised by Malaysia had been completed.
He criticized the statement made by a Malaysian government official as quoted by local media that the number of Indonesian workers who had experienced abuse by their employers in Malaysia accounted for only 0.05 percent of the total and therefore Malaysia could ask Indonesia to immediately lift the moratorium.
"That is not a principled reason. Torture of Indonesian house helpers is clearly against respect for human rights. Hence, it is not proper to use it as an argument to have the moratorium lifted," Anis said.
He said the violations of Indonesian domestic helpers' human rights by Malaysian employers had been taking place systematically and was intolerable. Therefore, continuous efforts by the Indonesian government to protect Indonesian migrant workers abroad were a must.
Responding to some points Indonesian wanted to be included in the revised MoU on the dispatch of workers to Malaysia, Anis said their passports should remain in their hands, their wages or salaries should be paid to them on time , they should be given one day off every week, and they should have the freedom to hold family gatherings.
About the Indonesian government's efforts get a better deal for Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia through diplomatic talks, Anis said he was not optimistic they would yield optimum results.
However, he appreciated to the steps taken by the Indonesian government to conduct political diplomacy with Malaysia for better protection of the migrant workers' rights.
Sharing the same opinion with Anis, Head of the National Agency for the Protection and Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) Jumhur Hidayat hoped that the moratorium should be instantly lifted after the completion of the MoU 's revision as promised by Malaysia.
"We don't want to sacrifice the people just for the sake of foreign exchange. We want them (the people) to work with dignity during which their rights are protected," he said.
Earlier, the Malaysian delegation in a meeting with Indonesian counterpart led by Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno in Putra Jaya Selangor on Monday requested for the lifting of moratorium on account of a small number of torture cases against Indonesian workers.
In response to a possible and rampant flow of illegal workers in the informal sector in the moratorium post period, Jumhur said the illegal worker would be prevented from going abroad at the ports or check points or suspected places by the police.
"The sanction to be meted out to those engaged in helping trade the illegal workers is also heavy, as it has to do with human trafficking," he said.
Jumhur also hoped that Malaysia could take a firm action against labor profiteers who often smuggled illegal workers into that neighboring country.
In the meantime, Indonesian Manpower Minister Erman Suparno, after having talks with his counterpart in Kuala Lumpur early this week, said the revision of the MoU with Malaysia could be completed in early August.
"After we held talks with Malaysian Police Chief Mussa Hassan and Human Resources Minister Subramaniam, we agreed to revise the MoU on the dispatch of domestic helpers," Erman said.
The two neighboring states agreed to form a joint working group tasked with revising the MoU signed in 2006, he said.
"They will start working on July 15 and I think they will accomplish their job in two weeks' time. The two countries are expected to sign the revised MoU in early August," he said.
"After the revised MoU is signed, Indonesia will lift a ban on the dispatch of domestic helpers to Malaysia. But if it remains as it is, Indonesia will stop sending domestic helpers to (the neighboring state) until it is revised and agreed upon by the two countries," he said.
There were many factors underlying Indonesia's call for the revision of the MoU, including the enactment of anti-human trafficking law and regional autonomy law, he said.
The minister said the revision of the MoU would focus on several clauses related to salaries, leave, and political rights, among others.
He asked the Malaysian authorities not to discriminate against Indonesian maids in terms of salaries.
"We want all Indonesian maids to receive the same salaries. Don't make a distinction. There must be a periodic salary hike. We also want Indonesian maids to receive the same salaries as those from other countries," he said.
***3***
Jakarta, July 9 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has been urged not to immediately meet Malaysia's request for the lifting of a moratorium on the dispatch of Indonesian informal sector workers to the neighboring country.
Anis Hidayah, director of Indonesia Migrant Care, said here on Thursday the government should not abruptly end the moratorium until the revision of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) promised by Malaysia had been completed.
He criticized the statement made by a Malaysian government official as quoted by local media that the number of Indonesian workers who had experienced abuse by their employers in Malaysia accounted for only 0.05 percent of the total and therefore Malaysia could ask Indonesia to immediately lift the moratorium.
"That is not a principled reason. Torture of Indonesian house helpers is clearly against respect for human rights. Hence, it is not proper to use it as an argument to have the moratorium lifted," Anis said.
He said the violations of Indonesian domestic helpers' human rights by Malaysian employers had been taking place systematically and was intolerable. Therefore, continuous efforts by the Indonesian government to protect Indonesian migrant workers abroad were a must.
Responding to some points Indonesian wanted to be included in the revised MoU on the dispatch of workers to Malaysia, Anis said their passports should remain in their hands, their wages or salaries should be paid to them on time , they should be given one day off every week, and they should have the freedom to hold family gatherings.
About the Indonesian government's efforts get a better deal for Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia through diplomatic talks, Anis said he was not optimistic they would yield optimum results.
However, he appreciated to the steps taken by the Indonesian government to conduct political diplomacy with Malaysia for better protection of the migrant workers' rights.
Sharing the same opinion with Anis, Head of the National Agency for the Protection and Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) Jumhur Hidayat hoped that the moratorium should be instantly lifted after the completion of the MoU 's revision as promised by Malaysia.
"We don't want to sacrifice the people just for the sake of foreign exchange. We want them (the people) to work with dignity during which their rights are protected," he said.
Earlier, the Malaysian delegation in a meeting with Indonesian counterpart led by Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno in Putra Jaya Selangor on Monday requested for the lifting of moratorium on account of a small number of torture cases against Indonesian workers.
In response to a possible and rampant flow of illegal workers in the informal sector in the moratorium post period, Jumhur said the illegal worker would be prevented from going abroad at the ports or check points or suspected places by the police.
"The sanction to be meted out to those engaged in helping trade the illegal workers is also heavy, as it has to do with human trafficking," he said.
Jumhur also hoped that Malaysia could take a firm action against labor profiteers who often smuggled illegal workers into that neighboring country.
In the meantime, Indonesian Manpower Minister Erman Suparno, after having talks with his counterpart in Kuala Lumpur early this week, said the revision of the MoU with Malaysia could be completed in early August.
"After we held talks with Malaysian Police Chief Mussa Hassan and Human Resources Minister Subramaniam, we agreed to revise the MoU on the dispatch of domestic helpers," Erman said.
The two neighboring states agreed to form a joint working group tasked with revising the MoU signed in 2006, he said.
"They will start working on July 15 and I think they will accomplish their job in two weeks' time. The two countries are expected to sign the revised MoU in early August," he said.
"After the revised MoU is signed, Indonesia will lift a ban on the dispatch of domestic helpers to Malaysia. But if it remains as it is, Indonesia will stop sending domestic helpers to (the neighboring state) until it is revised and agreed upon by the two countries," he said.
There were many factors underlying Indonesia's call for the revision of the MoU, including the enactment of anti-human trafficking law and regional autonomy law, he said.
The minister said the revision of the MoU would focus on several clauses related to salaries, leave, and political rights, among others.
He asked the Malaysian authorities not to discriminate against Indonesian maids in terms of salaries.
"We want all Indonesian maids to receive the same salaries. Don't make a distinction. There must be a periodic salary hike. We also want Indonesian maids to receive the same salaries as those from other countries," he said.
***3***
