GOVT TO PROVIDE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR PROBLEMATIC WORKERS

Jakarta, June 24 (ANTARA) - The government, through Indonesian embassies abroad , will continue to provide legal protection for Indonesian workers (TKIs) who are involved in legal cases overseas, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said.

"The government will always provide legal protection for TKIs, although they are involved in legal cases such as becoming a suspect because of breaching the law," the foreign minister said here on Tuesday.

The minister who spoke on the sidelines of the International Public Service Expo 2009, said that the legal assistance that the government would provide was adjusted to the need and the extent of the problem a TKI was facing.

If, for example, a TKI becomes a suspect of a case, the Indonesian embassy will provide a legal advocacy, an interpreter and a lawyer during the court proceeding, he said.

Besides, the Indonesian embassy will also provide health care service for a TKI who became ill due to maltreatment by his or her employers.

"We will always try to provide service maximally for TKIs working overseas," the foreign minister said.
In connection with protection for TKIs working in Malaysia who continued to face problems, the foreign minister said that his side had conducted coordination with the government of Malaysia.

"We have carried out coordination with the Malaysian government, including the local police to take the necessary actions if an employer abused or did not pay his or her TKI maid or worker," Wirajuda said.

He said that the Malaysian government had also issued a new regulation which among others contained the minimum wage the employer had to pay, one day-off a week for a worker and the obligation of an employer to provide his or her clear address.

"The address is needed to trace and sue the employer if a TKI faced a problem. We hope the new regulation would be carried out effectively," the foreign minister said.*