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Rights group calls on gov't to seek greater protection for migrant workers
Jakarta Globe - May 2, 2017
Speaking over the weekend at the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Manila, Philippines, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said member countries must work together to implement comprehensive protective measures for migrant workers throughout the region.
"At the policy level, a commitment to provide better protection can be realized by fully implementing Law No. 6 of 2012, which ratifies the United Nation's International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families," Migrant Care executive director Wahyu Susilo told reporters in Jakarta on Monday (01/05).
Jokowi later met with Indonesian nationals on his working visit to Hong Kong on Sunday, where he learned of pressing issues facing the Indonesian migrant community there.
However, Wahyu still believes Jokowi must do more to ensure the legal rights of migrant workers and their families. "Until now, the Indonesian government has been reluctant to implement the [2012 law] as it is considered by some an additional burden," he said.
Wahyu said representatives of the Industry Ministry recently proposed a revision to the Migrant Workers Protection Law that contains no significant improvements with its predecessor and does little to meet guidelines laid out in the UN convention.
"The situation hasn't improved because of the reluctance of the Indonesian government and the [House of Representatives] to discuss the rights of maids and household helpers abroad," Wahyu said.
Many Indonesian migrant workers have been convicted of crimes in foreign countries in recent years and have received harsh penalties for their transgressions, including death. In other well-documented incidents, Indonesian nationals have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of their employers, though have received little, if any, compensation.
In March, a raid on a bird's nest factory outside Klang, Malaysia, revealed more than one hundred Indonesian nationals working as modern slaves. Further investigations into that case are still ongoing.
"Coinciding with International Labor Day [on May 1], Migrant Care demands that the government resolve the continuing discussions on the Indonesian migrant workers protection bill," Wahyu said.
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