Umi Saodah Tiba di Indonesia Siang Ini

Selasa, 27/01/2009 07:10 WIB

E Mei Amelia R - detikNews

Jakarta - Umi Saodah, seorang Tenaga Kerja Wanita (TKW) Indonesia yang bekerja di Gaza, Palestina, akhirnya pulang ke tanah air. Umi diperkirakan akan tiba di Bandara Soekarno-Hatta, Cengkareng siang ini.

"Kabar dari Deplu, Umi Saodah akan tiba di bandara pukul 12.00 WIB," kata paman Umi Saodah, Hanafi saat dihubungi lewat telepon, Selasa (27/1/2009).

Hanafi mengaku memperoleh kabar kepulangan Umi dari Departemen Luar Negeri (Deplu) pada Senin (26/1/09) kemarin. Mendengar keponakannya akan pulang, Hanafi pun merasa bahagia.

"Tentu saja kita senang dan bersyukur kepada Allah," katanya.

Kondisi Umi sendiri, dikatakan Hanafi dalam keadaan baik-baik saja. Namun, lanjutnya, kondisi mental Umi sendiri masih labil akibat konflik Gaza beberapa waktu lalu.

"Kondisinya sehat. Tapi agak tertekan dan masih ketakutan," katanya.

Meski demikian, Hanafi tetap menuntut Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan (BNP2TKI), Deplu, dan Departemen Tenaga Kerja dan transmigrasi (Depnakertrans) agar segera menindak lanjuti pemenuhan hak-hak Umi Saodah, yakni pemenuhan gajinya selama 5 tahun yang belum dibayarkan.

"Kami juga menuntut agar Depnakertrans dan pihak kepolisian mengusut tuntas PT Amira Prima karena telah memberangkatkan Umi Saodah ke Yordania hingga Umi Saodah terjebak di jalur Gaza," tutupnya.

(mei/ndr)

Link: http://www.detiknews.com/read/2009/01/27/071048/1074579/10/umi-saodah-tiba-di-indonesia-siang-ini

INDONESIA: Foreign remittances set to fall with global slowdown

IRIN Asia, 27 Jan 2009 JAKARTA, 26 January 2009 (IRIN) - The amount of money sent home by Indonesians working abroad is expected to decline this year due to the global economic slowdown triggered by the financial crisis, government officials and economists said. About five million Indonesians work overseas, 65 percent in the domestic sector, mainly in Middle East countries, and sent approximately US$6 billion home in 2007, according to the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers. The amount is equal to 1.6 percent of gross domestic product, making remittances Indonesia's second-largest foreign exchange earner after oil and gas, said Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat, chairman of the agency. The total amount of money sent to Indonesia could be as high as $11 billion annually as transactions worth more than five million rupiah (US$500) are not recorded as remittances by the central bank because they are considered business transactions, and some workers send money with friends or relatives, Hidayat said. No figures were available for the whole of 2008, but as of April, $2.23 billion had been remitted, the agency said. According to Oxford Analytica, a global consulting firm, the financial crisis and ensuing economic downturn is significantly slowing the flow of remittances to developing countries for the first time in almost a decade. It said the impact on recipient countries would be felt this year. The International Labour Organization (ILO) said last month that millions of migrant workers faced layoffs and worsening conditions as the effect was felt in employing countries. "Past experience makes us painfully aware that migrant workers, especially women workers and those in irregular status, are among the hardest hit and most vulnerable during crisis situations," ILO director-general Juan Somavia said in a statement on the eve of International Migrants Day, 18 December 2008. Work permits not renewed Some employers have decided not to renew work contracts with Indonesian workers, and countries such as South Korea have postponed their intake of foreign workers until later this year, Hidayat said. Past experience makes us painfully aware that migrant workers, especially women workers and those in irregular status, are among the hardest hit and most vulnerable during crisis situations. Hidayat said his agency was looking at potential markets such as South Africa, Madagascar and eastern European countries to offset slower demand in the Middle East, East Asia and Malaysia, where many Indonesians work in the plantation and manufacturing sectors. "Madagascar needs a lot of mining engineers so it is a good market for our workers," he said. Some economists predicted that Indonesian remittances would only reach around $3 billion this year, half the amount sent home in 2007. "The biggest revenue sources are Malaysia and the Middle East. Given the fact that Malaysia's economy is under pressure and growth for this year is expected at around 3 percent, obviously job absorption will be affected," said Chatib Basri, an economist from the University of Indonesia. "The Middle East is also experiencing economic slowdown although not as bad as Malaysia," he said. Last month, Indonesia's ambassador to Malaysia, Da'i Bachtiar, said about 300,000 of the 1.2 million Indonesian workers in Malaysia may have to return home as companies were forced to cut their workforce due to the crisis. Several electronic goods manufacturers are not renewing contracts. However Bachtiar said the plantation and service sectors were not yet affected. Abdul Malik Harahap, director for Indonesian migrant workers placement at the Manpower Ministry, said the impact of the credit crunch on remittances was likely to start being felt around April 2009. "So far we haven't seen an immediate impact yet but we have to anticipate it, and must improve the skills of our workers so they can be more competitive overseas," he said. atp/bj/mw

Link: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=82554

Hundreds in Pasar Baru lose homes to fire

Tue, 01/27/2009 1:21 PM  |  City

JAKARTA: Hundreds of residents lost their homes after a fire tore through a dense residential area in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, burning down 130 houses.

The Central Jakarta Fire Agency sent 26 fire trucks to extinguish the inferno at Kelinci alleyway, Pasar Baru Timur Dalam.

An official at the agency, Zainal Abidin, said it took three and a half hours to put the fire out.

The fire agency received the report at 9:30 p.m. 

Central Jakarta Police do not know what caused the fire.

The exact value of the losses sustained had not been determined, but residents estimated it to be hundreds of millions of rupiah.

Last year, Central Jakarta saw 108 fires, down from 129 in 2007.

However, the financial losses sustained in 2008 increased almost threefold, from Rp 24 billion in 2007 to Rp 61 billion. -JP

Link: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/27/hundreds-pasar-baru-lose-homes-fire.html

RI worker trapped in Gaza to return Tuesday

The Jakarta Post   |  Tue, 01/27/2009 10:35 AM  |  National

JAKARTA: Indonesian worker Umi Saodah, who became trapped in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, as war broke out, will arrive in the capital Tuesday afternoon, a Foreign Ministry official said Monday.

"Indeed, Umi Saodah will return to Indonesia tomorrow," the Foreign Ministry's director for protection of Indonesian citizens abroad Teguh Wardoyo told tempointeraktif.com.

"We have also informed the family (about her arrival),"  Wardoyo said.

According to official data, Saodah left to work in Palestine eight years ago with a company called PT Andro Meda Jakarta.

Saodah, from Central Java, however, initially worked in Jordan before settling in Palestine.

The ministry received information that she was detained for questioning at a local police station in relation to her dispute with her employers not long before the Israeli military operation started on Dec. 27. —JP

Link: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/27/ri-worker-trapped-gaza-return-tuesday.html

INDONESIA: Foreign remittances set to fall with global slowdown

Photo: IRIN

Five million Indonesians working overseas sent approximately US$6 billion home in 2007

JAKARTA, 26 January 2009 (IRIN) - The amount of money sent home by Indonesians working abroad is expected to decline this year due to the global economic slowdown triggered by the financial crisis, government officials and economists said.

About five million Indonesians work overseas, 65 percent in the domestic sector, mainly in Middle East countries, and sent approximately US$6 billion home in 2007, according to the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers.

The amount is equal to 1.6 percent of gross domestic product, making remittances Indonesia's second-largest foreign exchange earner after oil and gas, said Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat, chairman of the agency.

The total amount of money sent to Indonesia could be as high as $11 billion annually as transactions worth more than five million rupiah (US$500) are not recorded as remittances by the central bank because they are considered business transactions, and some workers send money with friends or relatives, Hidayat said.

No figures were available for the whole of 2008, but as of April, $2.23 billion had been remitted, the agency said.

According to Oxford Analytica, a global consulting firm, the financial crisis and ensuing economic downturn is significantly slowing the flow of remittances to developing countries for the first time in almost a decade.

It said the impact on recipient countries would be felt this year.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) said last month that millions of migrant workers faced layoffs and worsening conditions as the effect was felt in employing countries.

"Past experience makes us painfully aware that migrant workers, especially women workers and those in irregular status, are among the hardest hit and most vulnerable during crisis situations," ILO director-general Juan Somavia said in a statement on the eve of International Migrants Day, 18 December 2008.

Work permits not renewed

Some employers have decided not to renew work contracts with Indonesian workers, and countries such as South Korea have postponed their intake of foreign workers until later this year, Hidayat said.

Past experience makes us painfully aware that migrant workers, especially women workers and those in irregular status, are among the hardest hit and most vulnerable during crisis situations.

Hidayat said his agency was looking at potential markets such as South Africa, Madagascar and eastern European countries to offset slower demand in the Middle East, East Asia and Malaysia, where many Indonesians work in the plantation and manufacturing sectors.

"Madagascar needs a lot of mining engineers so it is a good market for our workers," he said.

Some economists predicted that Indonesian remittances would only reach around $3 billion this year, half the amount sent home in 2007.

"The biggest revenue sources are Malaysia and the Middle East. Given the fact that Malaysia's economy is under pressure and growth for this year is expected at around 3 percent, obviously job absorption will be affected," said Chatib Basri, an economist from the University of Indonesia.

"The Middle East is also experiencing economic slowdown although not as bad as Malaysia," he said.

Last month, Indonesia's ambassador to Malaysia, Da'i Bachtiar, said about 300,000 of the 1.2 million Indonesian workers in Malaysia may have to return home as companies were forced to cut their workforce due to the crisis. Several electronic goods manufacturers are not renewing contracts.

However Bachtiar said the plantation and service sectors were not yet affected.

Abdul Malik Harahap, director for Indonesian migrant workers placement at the Manpower Ministry, said the impact of the credit crunch on remittances was likely to start being felt around April 2009.

"So far we haven't seen an immediate impact yet but we have to anticipate it, and must improve the skills of our workers so they can be more competitive overseas," he said.

atp/bj/mw

Kebakaran Terjadi di Pemukiman Pasar Baru

Minggu, 25 Januari 2009 - 22:39 wib

Insaf Albert Tarigan - Okezone

JAKARTA - Si jago merah mengamuk di Kawasan padat penduduk di Gang Brijo, Pasar Baru Timur, Jakarta Pusat. Peristiwa ini terjadi dari pukul 22.00 WIB tadi.

Menurut keterangan yang dirilis Traffic Management Center, Minggu (25/1/2009), api masih berkobar hingga saat ini. Namun, pihak pemadam kebakaran sudah mengerahkan 10 mobil pemadam untuk memadamkan api.

Petugas pemadam sedikit menghadapi kendala di lapangan karena lokasi kebakaran yang berada di gang sempit. Hingga kini belum ada laporan penyebab kebakaran maupun adanya korban jiwa dalam musibah tersebut.(hri)

Link: http://news.okezone.com/index.php/ReadStory/2009/01/25/1/186238/kebakaran-terjadi-di-pemukiman-pasar-baru

Kerugian Akibat Kebakaran Mencapai Ratusan Juta

Senin, 26 Januari 2009 - 15:05 wib

Fahmi Firdaus - Okezone

JAKARTA - Total kerugian akibat kebakaran di sekitar Pasar Baru Timur Dalam, Jakarta Pusat belum diketahui pasti. Namun, berdasar perkiraan kerugian mencapai ratusan juta rupiah.

"Mengenai jumlah kerugian sementara belum bisa dihitung. Tapi ada sekira 130 bangunan terbakar," ungkap Camat Rawa Besar, Darma Sembiring kepada okezone saat meninjau lokasi penampungan korban kebakaran, Senin (26/1/2009).

Namun menurut perkiraan warga jumlah kerugian bisa mencapai ratusan juta rupiah, karena banyak barang-barang berharga yang tidak dapat terselamatkan.

Camat juga menjelaskan penyebab kebakaran masih diselidiki pihak berwajib. Namun dugaan sementara, kata camat, penyebabnya hubungan akibat listrik arus pendek.

Sementarta itu petugas Polres Jakarta Pusat Bripka Hendri mengatakan, penyebab kebakaran diduga dari petasan. "Tapi ada juga yang bilang korsleting. Pastinya masih diselidiki," ujar Hendri kepada okezone.
  (ram)

Link: http://news.okezone.com/index.php/ReadStory/2009/01/26/1/186387/kerugian-akibat-kebakaran-mencapai-ratusan-juta

Umi Saodah Segera Dipulangkan ke Tanah Air

Sabtu, 24 Januari 2009 - 19:01 wib

GIANYAR - Umi Saodah, tenaga kerja Indonesia (TKI) yang terjebak di Jalur Gaza, Palestina, dalam waktu dekat akan dapat berkumpul kembali dengan keluarganya di tanah air.

Hal ini diungkapkan Menteri Luar Negeri Hassan Wirajuda usai melakukan rapat guna membahas Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) di Istana Tampaksiring, Gianyar, Sabtu, (24/1/2009).

"Saya sudah mendapat laporan dari Dubes Mesir bahwa yang bersangkutan sedang dalam proses pemulangan ke Indonesia," tegasnya di Bali.

Artinya, imbuh Wirajuda, perlindungan terhadap warga negara Indonesia di tengah perang yang berkecamuk di Palestina dapat dilaksanakan dengan baik.

"Mungkin dalam beberapa hari ini, TKI kita (Umi Saodah) sudah dapat pulang dan berkumpul dengan keluarganya kembali," harapnya.

Seperti diketahui, Umi Saodah adalah TKI yang bekerja di Jalur Gaza dan sempat ditangkap kepolisian Palestina dan ditahan karena melanggar kontrak.

Namun kasus ini dapat diselesaikan dengan baik dan kini yang bersangkutan telah berada di bawah perlindungan Kedutaan Besar Indonesia yang ada di Mesir. (Dewi Umaryati/Sindo/ful)

Link: http://news.okezone.com/index.php/ReadStory/2009/01/24/1/186053/umi-saodah-segera-dipulangkan-ke-tanah-air

Kebakaran Terjadi di Pemukiman Pasar Baru

Minggu, 25 Januari 2009 - 22:39 wib

Insaf Albert Tarigan - Okezone

JAKARTA - Si jago merah mengamuk di Kawasan padat penduduk di Gang Brijo, Pasar Baru Timur, Jakarta Pusat. Peristiwa ini terjadi dari pukul 22.00 WIB tadi.

Menurut keterangan yang dirilis Traffic Management Center, Minggu (25/1/2009), api masih berkobar hingga saat ini. Namun, pihak pemadam kebakaran sudah mengerahkan 10 mobil pemadam untuk memadamkan api.

Petugas pemadam sedikit menghadapi kendala di lapangan karena lokasi kebakaran yang berada di gang sempit. Hingga kini belum ada laporan penyebab kebakaran maupun adanya korban jiwa dalam musibah tersebut.(hri)

Link: http://news.okezone.com/index.php/ReadStory/2009/01/25/1/186238/kebakaran-terjadi-di-pemukiman-pasar-baru

207 KK Korban Kebakaran Ngungsi di Penampungan

Senin, 26 Januari 2009 - 14:35 wib

Fahmi Firdaus - Okezone

JAKARTA - Korban kebakaran yang terjadi di sekitar Pasar Baru terpaksa harus mengungsi ke tempat penampungan di gedung bekas supermaket.

Di tempat ini, sedikitnya 207 KK atau 450 jiwa dari tiga RW yang terbakar mengungsi dengan fasilitas seadanya.

Tiga tenda peleton dari PMI, Walikota Jakarta Pusat dan Kodim Jakarta Pusat didirikan. Posko Kesehatan dari Puskesmas Sawah Besar juga sudah dioperasikan.

Camat Rawa Besar Darma Sembiring mengatakan, untuk sementara para korban kebakaran ditempatkan di lokasi penampungan. "Mereka ditampung selama enam hari," ungkapnya kepada okezone di sekitar lokasi penampungan, Senin (26/1/2009).

Kebakaran ini terjadi Minggu malam sekira pukul 23.25 WIB. Sedikitnya  130 rumah terbakar dalam insiden ini. Aparat kepolisian masih melakukan penyelidikan terhadap penyebab kebakaran.

Diduga kebakaran tersebut akibat petasan, namun ada juga yang menyebutkan kebakaran disebabkan hubungan listrik arus pendek. (ram)

Link: http://news.okezone.com/index.php/ReadStory/2009/01/26/1/186376/207-kk-korban-kebakaran-ngungsi-di-penampungan