By : Agus*)
The Indonesian government is attempting to prevent more informal Indonesian workers or unskill workers from going to 21 countries in the Middle East as part of the program to improve security of migrant workers employed as housemaids.
Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said “Many workers working as housemaids have encountered trouble in their workplaces, ranging from labor violations to human rights abuses.”
He said the main idea of preventing Indonesian Workers going to Middle East country is the executions of two migrant workers that Siti Zaenab of Bangkalan, Madura, and Karni of Brebes in Central Java.
“In according to No. 39/2004, the government has been given the authority to regulate the placement of migrant workers abroad to monitor their employement and ensure their protection. It has been also authorized the ability to stop sending of migrant workers to countries that fail to provide protection for workers,” he said further.
The 21 countries which abandoned by Indonesian government such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan. On the others hand the moratorium has been found to be ineffective since most workers extend their labor contracts without returning home.
*) The Author is Brunei Contributor
