Ref: Ditulis pada poster-poster: "Saudia Arabia is Human Rights Criminal", tetapi anehnya tiap tahun ratusan ribu orang Indonesia termasuk petinggi-petingi penguasa NKRI kesana.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/editorials/editorial-migrant-workers-deserve-protection/407562 Editorial: Migrant Workers Deserve Protection November 20, 2010 Countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan have brought in strict measures to protect both workers and employers. In these countries, employers are hauled before the court and severely punished if they are found guilty of mistreating their workers. (JG Photo/Safir Makki Indonesia's migrant workers have to face many difficulties when traveling to distant lands in search of work to support their families back home. And yet, when they are physically abused, the government does little to protect their rights. Often they are held hostage to the laws of the country they are working in. If those laws do not adequately protect them, they are left to suffer in silence. But the case of Sumiati, a domestic worker who was tortured by her employers in Saudi Arabia, may finally be spurring the government into action. And now that another maid has been found dead in the Gulf state, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called for a review of all agreements with countries that import Indonesian workers. It is disappointing that it has taken the suffering of a defenseless citizen for the government to act. Indonesia currently has no agreement in place with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan when it comes to protecting the rights of migrant workers. As such, these workers have no recourse when they are abused or mistreated by their employers. Moreover, they are not even given proper information about who to contact or where to go for help in these countries. Beyond investigating Sumiati's case, the government must also press for full compensation from the Saudi authorities for her grievous injuries. And while her employer has been arrested, Jakarta must ensure that full criminal charges are brought to bear. Sumiati has been in a hospital in Medina since Nov. 8. Her injuries include cuts around her lips, believed to have been made with scissors, as well as internal injuries. There are an estimated three million Indonesian migrant workers currently employed overseas, with more than one third of those in the Middle East. These workers are an important source of foreign income for the country, but their hard labor often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. It is clear that a full review of the country's migrant labor policy is needed. In today's globalized world, labor, just like capital, is highly mobile and migrant workers will continue to seek employment opportunities abroad. The government cannot stop this trend, but it can better equip these workers to face the difficulties they may encounter. Countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan have brought in strict measures to protect both workers and employers. In these countries, employers are hauled before the court and severely punished if they are found guilty of mistreating their workers. The long-term solution, of course, is to create enough economic opportunities at home so that migrant workers do not have to seek employment overseas. To achieve this, the government needs to raise living standards by accelerating economic growth and attracting more investment. Hopefully, in the future, Indonesia will no longer have to export its labor but become a destination for top talent. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
