STOP SENDING WORKERS TO JORDAN, KUWAIT, MINISTER SAYS

Jakarta, May 6 (ANTARA)-- Manpower Minister Erman Suparno has asked Acting Director General for Placement and Development of Indonesian Workers (Binapenta) I Gusti Made Arke to take firm measures against manpower suppliers who were still sending workers to Kuwait and Jordan.

"I have ordered the director general to take measures against manpower suppliers which are still sending Indonesian workers to Kuwait and Jordan," the minister said here on Wednesday.

Minister Erman recently stated that Indonesia should stop sending workers to Kuwait and Jordan because Indonesian workers would face high risks in those countries.

He said that the placement of Indonesian workers in Jordan for example could not be controlled because that country applied a system where visas could be arranged upon arrival in that country.

Thus, the Indonesian government could not supervise its citizens placed in Jordan. There are many cases where Indonesian workers fled to neighboring countries such as Palestine.

Recently, Minister Erman visited Jordan to observe the situation and problems facing the Indonesian workers in that country.

The minister said that as long as no improvement has been made in the mechanism of the placement of Indonesian workers in that country, Indonesia would not allow its citizens to work there because of the high risks facing the workers who also did not have protection.***3***