RI, Malaysia agree to form joint labor task force

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta  

11/17/2009

Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to set up a joint task force to deal with migrant workers from the former working in the latter, says a minister.

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said Monday that in addition to adopting preventive action along the border between the two countries, the join task force's main task would be to handle workers entering crossing into Malaysia illegally and those embroiled in disputes with employers.

"We can and must settle the remaining problems immediately," Muhaimin said on a visit to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to meet with some of the troubled workers.

"We'll also have to settle all problems relating to their recruitment and training at home so that only skilled workers will be sent overseas."

Accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador Da'i Bachtiar, Muhaimin and his entourage, including high-ranking ministry officials, talked with the workers and advised against entering Malaysia illegally.

The agreement was made following last week's bilateral talks between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur.

During the talks, Malaysia said it would keep applying due legal process in criminal cases involving the migrant workers.

Yudhoyono's Malaysian trip came in the wake of several high-profile cases of Indonesian domestic workers being abused by their Malaysian employers. Since June this year, at least three such workers have died at the hands of their employers.

In June, Indonesia put in place a temporary ban on sending wor-kers to Malaysia and Kuwait, in response to increasing reports of Indonesian domestic workers being abused there.

Malaysian labor law threatens harsh punishment for those employing illegal immigrants and those entering the country illegally and working without the proper permits.

Both governments have also agreed that migrant workers should be in possession of their own
passports, rather that leaving it with employers, to prevent them being abused.

A proposal for a minimum wage has also been made, as have calls for a weekly day off.

Manpower Minister Muhaimin also called on regional administrations, the police, the immigration office and the National Agency for Overseas Labor Placement and Protection (BNP2TKI) to enhance coordination and take concrete measures to prevent job seekers from going overseas illegally.

The government will tighten supervision at 51 airports nationwide to prevent Indonesian workers traveling illegally to Malaysia or the Middle East.

Muhaimin said the worker ban would likely be lifted if Malaysia and Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding by the end of this week.

Prior to the worker ban, the number of Indonesian migrant workers heading to Malaysia amounted to 400,000 this year, but dropped to 230,000 since June.

An estimated 2.2 million Indonesian workers are believed to have resettled in Malaysia without the proper permits.

Muhaimin also said he would revitalize all labor training centers to prepare overseas-bound workers prior to their departure.

"This must be done to help ease the unemployment rate," he said.