MINISTER: DON'T SEND FEMALE WORKERS TO VIOLENCE-PRONE COUNTRIES

Depok, West Java, July 29 (ANTARA) - State Minister of Women's Empowerment Prof. Dr. Meutia Hatta Swasono has urged the government not to allow sending of female workers to violence-prone countries such as those in the Middle East.

"If we have to, the female workers should be equipped with adequate knowledge," Meutia Hatta said after speaking in a discussion on gender and ethnicity at the Faculty of Culture, the University of Indonesia, here on Wednesday.

Every citizen of Indonesia must get protection from the government if they get into problem overseas, the minister said.

"This is in line with the existing laws stating that every Indonesian national must be protected," she said.

She regretted the fact that female workers were usually sent overseas without having enough knowledge and skills needed to implement their jobs.

"The mastery of English or Arabic is poor, and they are often sent overseas illegally. These could cause a lot of problems," the minister said.

The state ministry for women's empowerment has established cooperation with local administrations and NGOs in various regions to provide brief courses for female workers intended to work abroad, according to the minister.

The minister also asked would be workers not to use the services of illegal suppliers of workers.

"Choose worker suppliers which could be trusted and responsible," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Head of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) Moh Humhur Hidayat said Protection for Indonesian migrant workers should be provided since the beginning before they leave for an overseas employment.

"Pre-departure problems are the main factors that cause further problems faced by Indonesian migrant workers abroad," Jumhur was quoted as saying by BNP2TKI chief for public communication in a text message from Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday.

Jumhur Hidayat was in Amman to lead a coordination meeting on the placement and protection of Indonesian workers in various Middle East countries.

He cited as examples the lack of serious training for workers, poor language command and legal knowledge on their rights, cultural problems and lack mentality preparations. These all became sources for the weak protection of Indonesian migrant workers abroad.