Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Indian Overstayers Clog Deportation System - KSA
(MENAFN - Arab News) JEDDAH, 6 June 2007 ? Saudi authorities have expressed grave concern at the rising number of illegal migrants, especially from India, who enter the Kingdom in search of livelihood through easily obtainable pilgrim visas. Nearly 1,000 Indians were deported in a 24-hour period yesterday.The authorities recently issued an amnesty promising no punishment for illegal residents who turned themselves in. The amnesty ended Friday. In recent days, Arab News has observed hundreds of illegal residents ? most of whom are Indian nationals who came on Umrah visa and stayed to work illegally ? camped in squalid conditions under numerous Jeddah bridges waiting to be arrested by immigration authorities.Officials at the Passport Department have been struggling to find them room at the deportation center in Jeddah, which is currently coping with the mad rush of illegal residents taking advantage of the amnesty."Nearly 8,000 overstayers are packed in Tarheel (the Jeddah deportation center)," an immigration official, who did not want to be named, said yesterday. "The center's capacity is only 5,500."Jeddah Passport Department chief Brig. Gen. Muhammad Al-Asmari, chief of Diplomatic Security Lt. Col. Badr Shalhoub and Ministry of Haj representative Fahd Mohsen Adwani have been in consultations over the past week with Indian consular officials to find a solution to the problem of Indian nationals pouring into the Kingdom on Umrah visas in order to find work.The Saudis have been grappling with the problem of overstayers for the past several years with little success. Every year, Saudi officials have said, the problem assumes greater proportions. Jeddah is a particular magnet for this problem because it is a commercial and employment center near the holy city of Makkah.Indian consular officials say that in addition to illegal overstayers in Jeddah, illegal migrants from all over the Kingdom stream into Jeddah."They are under the impression that it is easier to get deported from Jeddah," said Indian Consul General Ausaf Sayeed, adding that the consulate is doing everything it can to help them.At one time, Pakistani nationals topped the list of overstayers. "In 2005, nearly 60,000 Pakistanis had overstayed their visas, while the Indian figure was put at 40,000," one source told Arab News. Since then the Pakistani government has worked to tackle the situation and control it. "They brought the number (of overstayers per year) down to 10,000, but the problem with Indians has remained," the source said.Last year, the Indian Consulate issued about 25,000 emergency certificates to its nationals who come without documentation seeking a way to leave the Kingdom. These certificates are required before deportation for those who do not otherwise have proof of identity and nationality.Saudi government officials are seeking ways to resolve the problem, because the expense of deporting overstaying pilgrims lands squarely on Saudi Arabia."These overstayers need to be accommodated in deportation centers and then they are sent back at state expense. Naturally they are upset and are taking a series of measures to stop this problem from getting even more out of hand," said an Indian Consulate official.This has prompted Saudi authorities to take up the issue with the Indian government. Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy discussed the issue with Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed when he met him for the signing of the Haj agreement last month.The Saudis have sought India's help in evolving some kind of mechanism to regulate pilgrim traffic from India. According to details of the meeting, the Indian side expressed its inability to play any direct role in resolving the problem of Umrah overstayers because the tour operators in India work in tandem with Saudi counterparts to bring pilgrims to the holy cities."The simple reason is that we don't know who the Umrah travel agents in India are who are sending them here and who their counterparts here in the Kingdom are," said Consul General Sayeed. "We have no control over them nor are we in touch with them. These travel agents in India who procure Umrah visas for these unscrupulous elements are authorized by the Saudi Embassy in New Delhi as well the Saudi Consulate in Mumbai."Sayeed pointed out that the problem has more to do with pilgrims who come for Umrah and not those who come for Haj, pointing out that India's Ministry of External Affairs registers Haj operators and the whole process is carefully regulated."As far as Haj is concerned we can account for each and every pilgrim who has come. Nobody stays back," he said. "That is a foolproof system."A Saudi official, who did not want to be named, confirmed that the problem is more with the Umrah pilgrims."This is a perpetual problem," he said. "The bulk of the overstayers are Umrah pilgrims. They come here on Umrah visas in the hope that they will be able to find jobs easily. But after remaining here for three to four months they realize that it is very difficult to get a job. The rules are being tightened, and chances of an Umrah visa being converted into a job visa are next to nothing."Now authorities want to know how to plug the loopholes. Authorities are hoping to monitor more closely the conduct of local pilgrimage operators, such as making sure they are keeping the passports and tickets of their clients in order to easily identify those who go missing from the tour.According to the Indian mission, the problem seems to be lack of awareness and education among Indians back home."Ninety percent of the Umrah overstayers are from the Indian state of Kerala," said the consul general. "Unless the Kerala state government gets involved, we see no end to this problem."Fingerprinting to Be IntroducedIn future, the Saudi authorities will introduce the fingerprinting of Umrah pilgrims."We have already started it on a small scale, but it will be a full-fledged operation in the next year or so," said one Saudi official. "Until that time the problem of overstayers will persist."Indian overstayers fall into three categories: First, those who have passports and money but face exit problems due to unresolved debts or other snags; second, people who have passports but have overstayed their pilgrimage visas and have no money, seeking a free return-ticket home at the expense of the Saudi government; third, those who have neither the money nor identification."This third category is the most problematic group," said the Indian consul general. "We need to interview them to ascertain their nationality. Just because somebody speaks Urdu, or Tamil, or Hindi, or Bengali doesn't mean they are Indians. It is a security issue. We don't want just anybody to enter our borders through this system."The consul general admitted that the whole problem is humanitarian in nature."But one shouldn't forget that all these people have violated Saudi law by coming here on an Umrah visa with the intention of working here and then disappearing," he said. "We should thank the Saudi authorities that, though the problem is so big in magnitude, they are still tackling it in a very humanitarian way. Sending planeloads of illegals free of charge is not a small thing."He lashed out at those Indian organizations that send faxes to the consulate and the embassy and the leadership in India. "The problem is not simple. These organizations that are paying mere lip service to the illegal Indians allege that the consulate is taking its time in issuing emergency certificates."The consul general disputed the allegation. "We cannot issue emergency certificates to everybody who is waiting to be arrested under various bridges in Jeddah. They have to be first arrested by the police, and only then can we issue the certificates," he explained.He said some Indian organizations were playing a proactive role in providing help to illegal Indians camped under various bridges. "The Jeddah Muslim Ekta Samiti and the Gulf Resident Indian Tamils (GRIT) along with consulate staff were providing humanitarian assistance to those in need."
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Hari Buruh Sedunia 2007, Tahun Kematian Buruh Migran
KESRA --1 MEI: Hari ini, 1 Mei 2007 adalah hari yang sangat penting bagi buruh seluruh dunia, tidak terkecuali bagi buruh migran (yang bekerja di luar negeri). Peringatan Hari Buruh Sedunia tahun 2007 ini merupakan hari berkabung bagi buruh migran Indonesia.
Menurut Anis Hidayah, direktur Migrant Care, terhitung sejak Januari-April 2007, setidaknya 44 buruh migran Indonesia meninggal dunia di luar negeri. Di Malaysia 13 orang, Singapura 9 orang, Saudi Arabia 7 orang, Yordania 7 orang, Taiwan 5 orang, Hongkong 2 orang dan Jepang 1 orang.
Anis mengungkapkan ke-44 orang buruh migran Indonesia yang meninggal dunia di luar negeri tersebut adalah Indarwati (32) ,Utari Widi Astuti (19), Atik Ekowati, Rumaikah, Rumiati, Iri, Dwi Novita sari, Jiah Bt Santukiman, Ridaah Bt Saharun, Umi Kulsum, Musdolifah (36), Kasiatun Bt Sukarno, Carmini Bt Jaidi, dan Istiqomah.
Juga Dasiah (32), Evi Priyanti, Dwi Kumiyah (24), Siti Juliah (30), Reni Endang Kusumawati, Susanti (30), Habi Rahman, Eka Yuanita, Rujiatmi, Rico Juan Afriyanto (28), Martukan (34), Nurhidayah, Watem (30), dan Nita.
Kemudian Juliana Desanti Taopan (26th), Siti Juriyah, Caswati, Darsiah, NN, NN, Sunarsih, 28, Sunarti (29), Gozali (38), NN (perempuan), Asmali (34), NN (32), Ahmad Apik, Edi Saturahman, dan Soleman Fobia.
"Dari 83% dari jumlah buruh migran yang meninggal adalah 37 orang perempuan dan mayoritas bekerja di sektor domestik sebagai PRT migran. Di Singapura, penyebab kematian buruh migran adalah karena jatuh dari bangunan yang tinggi, di Saudi Arabia mereka meninggal karena sakit dan kekerasan oleh majikan, di Malaysia penyebab kematinnya beragam, mulai dari sakit, kecelakaan kerja, mati di tangan RELA, dan terseret arus banjir."
"Tidak jarang diantara mereka penyebab kematiannya belum jelas meski jenazah telah dipulangkan ke Indonesia. Bahkan tiga diantaranya hingga kini masih misterius atau identitasnya belum jelas. Di sisi yang lain, masih banyak juga jenazah mereka yang belum dipulangkan ke Indonesia meski telah meninggal selama berbulan-bulan," imbuhnya.
Atas dasar situasi tersebut, Migrant Care menyatakan Hari Buruh Sedunia (May Day) 2007 ini sebagai hari berkabung bagi buruh migran Indonesia dan mengajak seluruh bangsa Indonesia untuk ikut menaikan bendera setengah tiang sebagai wujud turut berduka cita atas meninggalnya Sang Pahlawan Devisa.
Bertepatan dengan Hari Buruh Seduni tahun ini, lanjut Anis, pihaknya mendesak Pemerintah Indonesia harus secara serius menangani dan merespon tingginya angka kematian buruh migran Indonesia di luar negeri dan memberikan penghormatan serta penghargaan kepada setiap jenazah buruh migran yang dipulangkan ke Indonesia layaknya seorang pahlawan.
"Pemerintah Indonesia harus segera memulangkan jenazah-jenazah buruh migran yang hingga kini masih tertahan di berbagai negara disertai dengan hak-haknya. Sekaligus juga mengusut tuntas penyebab-penyebab kematian tersebut, termasuk mereka yang kematiannya masih misterius."
Pemerintah Indonesia harus melakukan upaya-upaya preventif untuk mengurangi tingginya angka kematian buruh migran di luar negeri. Pemerintah Indonesia harus segera memperbaiki kebijakan untuk memaksimalkan upaya perlindungan terhadap buruh migran dengan merativikasi konvensi internasional tentang perlindungan terhadap buruh migran dan anggota keluarganya, Membentuk bilateral/multilateral agreement serta merevisi UU No 39 Tahun 2004. (cn/broto)
Menurut Anis Hidayah, direktur Migrant Care, terhitung sejak Januari-April 2007, setidaknya 44 buruh migran Indonesia meninggal dunia di luar negeri. Di Malaysia 13 orang, Singapura 9 orang, Saudi Arabia 7 orang, Yordania 7 orang, Taiwan 5 orang, Hongkong 2 orang dan Jepang 1 orang.
Anis mengungkapkan ke-44 orang buruh migran Indonesia yang meninggal dunia di luar negeri tersebut adalah Indarwati (32) ,Utari Widi Astuti (19), Atik Ekowati, Rumaikah, Rumiati, Iri, Dwi Novita sari, Jiah Bt Santukiman, Ridaah Bt Saharun, Umi Kulsum, Musdolifah (36), Kasiatun Bt Sukarno, Carmini Bt Jaidi, dan Istiqomah.
Juga Dasiah (32), Evi Priyanti, Dwi Kumiyah (24), Siti Juliah (30), Reni Endang Kusumawati, Susanti (30), Habi Rahman, Eka Yuanita, Rujiatmi, Rico Juan Afriyanto (28), Martukan (34), Nurhidayah, Watem (30), dan Nita.
Kemudian Juliana Desanti Taopan (26th), Siti Juriyah, Caswati, Darsiah, NN, NN, Sunarsih, 28, Sunarti (29), Gozali (38), NN (perempuan), Asmali (34), NN (32), Ahmad Apik, Edi Saturahman, dan Soleman Fobia.
"Dari 83% dari jumlah buruh migran yang meninggal adalah 37 orang perempuan dan mayoritas bekerja di sektor domestik sebagai PRT migran. Di Singapura, penyebab kematian buruh migran adalah karena jatuh dari bangunan yang tinggi, di Saudi Arabia mereka meninggal karena sakit dan kekerasan oleh majikan, di Malaysia penyebab kematinnya beragam, mulai dari sakit, kecelakaan kerja, mati di tangan RELA, dan terseret arus banjir."
"Tidak jarang diantara mereka penyebab kematiannya belum jelas meski jenazah telah dipulangkan ke Indonesia. Bahkan tiga diantaranya hingga kini masih misterius atau identitasnya belum jelas. Di sisi yang lain, masih banyak juga jenazah mereka yang belum dipulangkan ke Indonesia meski telah meninggal selama berbulan-bulan," imbuhnya.
Atas dasar situasi tersebut, Migrant Care menyatakan Hari Buruh Sedunia (May Day) 2007 ini sebagai hari berkabung bagi buruh migran Indonesia dan mengajak seluruh bangsa Indonesia untuk ikut menaikan bendera setengah tiang sebagai wujud turut berduka cita atas meninggalnya Sang Pahlawan Devisa.
Bertepatan dengan Hari Buruh Seduni tahun ini, lanjut Anis, pihaknya mendesak Pemerintah Indonesia harus secara serius menangani dan merespon tingginya angka kematian buruh migran Indonesia di luar negeri dan memberikan penghormatan serta penghargaan kepada setiap jenazah buruh migran yang dipulangkan ke Indonesia layaknya seorang pahlawan.
"Pemerintah Indonesia harus segera memulangkan jenazah-jenazah buruh migran yang hingga kini masih tertahan di berbagai negara disertai dengan hak-haknya. Sekaligus juga mengusut tuntas penyebab-penyebab kematian tersebut, termasuk mereka yang kematiannya masih misterius."
Pemerintah Indonesia harus melakukan upaya-upaya preventif untuk mengurangi tingginya angka kematian buruh migran di luar negeri. Pemerintah Indonesia harus segera memperbaiki kebijakan untuk memaksimalkan upaya perlindungan terhadap buruh migran dengan merativikasi konvensi internasional tentang perlindungan terhadap buruh migran dan anggota keluarganya, Membentuk bilateral/multilateral agreement serta merevisi UU No 39 Tahun 2004. (cn/broto)
Monday, April 16, 2007
Jenazah Eka Yuanita Dipulangkan dari Taiwan
Pontianak, 14 April 2007 15:26Jenazah Eka Yuanita, buruh migran berusia 25 tahun asal Blitar, yang tewas tersengat listrik di Taiwan, Kamis (1/3), dipulangkan ke Indonesia, Sabtu (14/4).Anis Hidayah, Direktur Migrant CARE, sebuah organisasi peduli buruh migran, dalam keterangan tertulisnya di Pontianak, Sabtu, mengatakan bahwa kepastian pemulangan jenazah tersebut dari surat bernomor 0435/Img/KDEI/IV/2007 dari Kantor Dagang dan Ekonomi Indonesia di Taipei.Di dalam surat itu disebutkan bahwa jenazah Eka Yuanita akan dipulangkan ke Indonesia pada hari Sabtu, tanggal 14 April 2007 jam 18.40 (waktu Taiwan) dengan menggunakan pesawat EVA Air kode penerbangan BR 231 melalui Bandara Internasional Taoyuan Taiwan dengan tujuan Bandara Internasional Juanda Surabaya.Pesawat dijadwalkan tiba di Surabaya pada pukul 22.35 WIB dan jenazah Eka Yuanita kemudian akan diteruskan ke Blitar dengan menggunakan ambulan.Eka adalah warga RT 02/RW 01 Desa Kembangarum Kecamatan Sutojayan, Kabupaten Blitar, Jawa Timur, yang berangkat ke Taiwan sejak 15 September 2006 melalui PT Danamon Wahana Tenaga Kerja.Anis Hidayah menambahkan, proses keberangkatan Eka Yuanita ke Taiwan diduga sarat dengan tindakan perdagangan manusia. Eka Yuanita diberangkatkan oleh PT Danamon Wahana Tenaga Kerja dengan berbekal dokumen palsu mulai dari nama, usia, dan alamat.Demikian juga dengan perjanjian kerjanya, sedianya Eka Yuanita akan dipekerjakan sebagai pembantu rumah tangga (PRT), namun realisasinya dipekerjakan sebagai pelayan di sebuah restoran.Sebelumnya, Eka Yuanita tercatat juga pernah bekerja di Taiwan yaitu pada pertengahan tahun 2003-2006 melalui PT Danamon Wahana Tenaga Kerja sebagai PRT melalui jalur "kawin kontrak" atau yang dikenal juga dengan istilah "kawin pesanan" dengan warga Taiwan.Menurut Anis Hidayah, praktek itu merupakan sindikat perdagangan manusia secara terselubung yang seringkali terjadi dalam pengiriman buruh migran ke Taiwan karena telah terbukti banyak menimbulkan korban.Untuk itu, Migrant CARE meminta Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudoyono untuk segera menandatangani UU Trafficking yang telah disahkan oleh DPR RI pada tanggal 23 Maret 2007 lalu."Penandatanganan UU ini diharapkan segera bisa berlaku efektif untuk mencegah massifnya praktek trafficking dalam pengiriman buruh migran ke luar negeri," katanya. Sebelum dipulangkan, jenazah Eka Yuanita sempat terkatung-katung selama 45 hari di Taiwan.Ia bekerja sebagai PRT pada Hung Ruel Lin. Namun, sejak tanggal 26 Januari 2007, Eka Yuanita melarikan diri dari rumah majikannya. Kemudian, tanggal 2 Maret 2007, Kepolisian San Chong melapor kepada Kantor Dagang dan Ekonomi Indonesia di Taipei bahwa seorang Tenaga Kerja Wanita (TKW) atas nama Eka Yuanita telah meninggal dunia pada tanggal 1 Maret 2007.Menurut Anis Hidayah, seorang pemilik rumah yang bermarga Ting secara tidak sengaja menemukan korban tergeletak di lantai dalam kondisi sudah tidak bernyawa lagi.Namun pada kaki sebelah kanan korban terlihat bekas sengatan listrik yang diduga merupakan penyebab meninggalnya korban. [TMA, Ant]
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Govt asked to intervene for Indonesians on death row abroad
According to the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry, there are 21 Indonesian migrant workers facing death sentences abroad. Fifteen of them had been convicted in Malaysia for marijuana possession, while two received the death sentence in Singapore and four in Saudi Arabia for involvement in murder cases. The ministry said the government has extended legal assistance to the 15 Indonesians in Malaysia even though they were undocumented workers.
Indonesian legislator Suripto criticized the Indonesian missions in these countries for being too slow in helping migrant workers who are facing the death sentence. He urged the embassies to find noted lawyers to assist Indonesians with legal problems.
Meanwhile, Migrant Care executive director, Anis Hidayah, disclosed that four other Indonesian migrant workers are on death row in Malaysia on two separate murder charges. They are Aida bin Sukardi, 23, Erik bin Kartim, Wahyudi bin Boinen and Haliman bin Sihombing. The Higher Court is set to try Aida’s appeal against his death sentence in August, while the Supreme Court is scheduled to try the appeal of the three others in March. Hidayah urged Jakarta to lobby for the abolition of capital punishment in Malaysia.
Indonesian seafarers on Dutch vessels to receive pay hike
The Indonesian Seafarers Association (KPI) signed a collective labor agreement for both crew and officers with the Netherlands Maritime Employers Association (NEMEA) on 13 February. The agreement allows Indonesian seafarers to work on Dutch vessels for a gross monthly salary ranging from $1,520 to $4,586. It also allows them to transfer to other European-flagged vessels with similar remuneration systems. NEMEA said the agreement would not only ensure the labor security of Indonesian seafarers working for European shipping companies but would also boost the growing Dutch shipping industry.
3 Britons deported over immigration violations
The Indonesian government deported three British nationals who had been working as instructors in marine conservation in Southeast Sulawesi province. According to immigration officials, Steven Raymond Olive, Benjamin James Farrar and Julian Ronal Fudge have been in Indonesia since 1999; they had permits to work in only one environmental foundation but they were found to have worked with other foundations as well. Olive and Fudge are both married to Indonesian nationals.
Sources: Xinhua, “Indonesia deports 3 Britons for immigration violation,” People's Daily, 1 February 2007; “RI embassies rather slow in protecting Indonesian migrant workers,” Antara News, 6 February 2007; Ridwan Max Sijabat, “RI workers on death row overseas,” The Jakarta Post, 8 February 2007; “Four more workers on death row,” The Jakarta Post, 10 February 2007; Ridwan Max Sijabat, “Dutch ship pay rise for Indonesian sailors,” The Jakarta Post, 14 February 2007
Indonesian legislator Suripto criticized the Indonesian missions in these countries for being too slow in helping migrant workers who are facing the death sentence. He urged the embassies to find noted lawyers to assist Indonesians with legal problems.
Meanwhile, Migrant Care executive director, Anis Hidayah, disclosed that four other Indonesian migrant workers are on death row in Malaysia on two separate murder charges. They are Aida bin Sukardi, 23, Erik bin Kartim, Wahyudi bin Boinen and Haliman bin Sihombing. The Higher Court is set to try Aida’s appeal against his death sentence in August, while the Supreme Court is scheduled to try the appeal of the three others in March. Hidayah urged Jakarta to lobby for the abolition of capital punishment in Malaysia.
Indonesian seafarers on Dutch vessels to receive pay hike
The Indonesian Seafarers Association (KPI) signed a collective labor agreement for both crew and officers with the Netherlands Maritime Employers Association (NEMEA) on 13 February. The agreement allows Indonesian seafarers to work on Dutch vessels for a gross monthly salary ranging from $1,520 to $4,586. It also allows them to transfer to other European-flagged vessels with similar remuneration systems. NEMEA said the agreement would not only ensure the labor security of Indonesian seafarers working for European shipping companies but would also boost the growing Dutch shipping industry.
3 Britons deported over immigration violations
The Indonesian government deported three British nationals who had been working as instructors in marine conservation in Southeast Sulawesi province. According to immigration officials, Steven Raymond Olive, Benjamin James Farrar and Julian Ronal Fudge have been in Indonesia since 1999; they had permits to work in only one environmental foundation but they were found to have worked with other foundations as well. Olive and Fudge are both married to Indonesian nationals.
Sources: Xinhua, “Indonesia deports 3 Britons for immigration violation,” People's Daily, 1 February 2007; “RI embassies rather slow in protecting Indonesian migrant workers,” Antara News, 6 February 2007; Ridwan Max Sijabat, “RI workers on death row overseas,” The Jakarta Post, 8 February 2007; “Four more workers on death row,” The Jakarta Post, 10 February 2007; Ridwan Max Sijabat, “Dutch ship pay rise for Indonesian sailors,” The Jakarta Post, 14 February 2007
MALAYSIA PROPOSES MODERN DAY SLAVERY LAW
Published bay Migrant CARE
The motive of the new bill proposed by Malaysia Home Affair Minister to restrict the movement of migrant workers is questionable. The excuses of crimes committed by Indonesia Migrant workers have escalated by 2% should not be the valid reasons. The plan to table the bill at the Malaysia Parliament is grossly indecent discrimination against vulnerable migrant workers and a violation of international labor rules and codes.
We condemn Malaysia government’s plan to table the bill that allows the employers to confine the workers in the plywood and zinc makeshift quarters in the work sites liken the practices of the illegal human traffickers. The new bill will grant the employers the total control of the workers’ freedom including locking them up like the slaves.
Such a legislative action is prejudice against migrant workers that categorizes migrant workers as a security problem is an over reacted actions. Home Ministry should avoid the plan promote the Out sourcing companies business models that trades human being (Currently there are 213 man power outsourcing company recruited 31,493 workers) as human commodity at 150% to 200% mark up to their respective clients.
The proposed law is also against the teaching of Islam and Islam Hadhari principle promoted by Abdullah Administration as it is a transgression of boundaries and transgression upon a soul, its honor, its property or causing harm to another human (without rights). It will allowed the employers and outsourcing companies to unjustly take the property of another or harm and oppress them with violence, insult, other forms of aggression and taking advantage of another’s weakness.
The current practice of the retaining of passports by agents and employers to control foreign workers movements, puts foreign workers in a very precarious situation where the threat of becoming an ‘undocumented’ or “illegal immigrant” are at the mercy of the unscrupulous employers/agents.
Migrant workers are not tourists or visitors. Migrant workers are here for work. Malaysia needs more effective enforcement of the Employment Act, the Industrial Relations Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Workmen’s Compensation Act and many others. Home Ministry’s effort to usurp the powers and jurisdiction of the Human Resource Ministry is an unnecessary additional blunder.
Home Ministry should to concentrate on its primary and fundamental duties in addressing the rising crime rate and the presence of the millions of undocumented workers in this country.
The controversial involvement of Rela has caused international embarrassment to Malaysia when Ops Tegas in 2004 had created many highlighted shame that Home Ministry had successfully deported 384,000 undocumented workers but failed to punish a single unscrupulous employers.
Home Ministry should also be more focus in tackling the corruptions within its own ministry rather than to create new laws. Home Ministry has not solved its internal problems such as:
1. Issuance of the faked approval letters,
2. Failure of its legal department to prosecute the employers who failed to pay the fines and compounds,
3. Illegal collection of protection fees from undocumented workers,
4. Inability to control the excessive marking up of levy fees (RM 1,200 to RM 3,000 per head) through Immigration brokers,
5. Inability to control the Maid agencies from complying with the ceiling fees charges,
6. Inability to discipline of RELA team whom has been given the military Ranks without earning their military merits.
7. Failure to enforce the amended immigration acts 2002 fairly and transparently.
8. Failure to prosecute the mastermind behind the human trafficking activities that involved more than 200,000 migrant workers
Passage of the law to be tabled could trigger many unnecessary diplomatic strains and the domestic political tension among the family of the migrant workers in Indonesia.
Migrant Care urges the Home Affairs Minister to stop tabling the bill which will carry multi dimensional damages to Malaysia- Indonesia relationship and its good standing image in the OIC and NAM. We calls on to the Malaysia Prime Minister to ignore the proposal in the cabinet meetings before it is brought another international controversial shames to Malaysia government and its people.
Jakarta, 1 March 2007
Wahyu Susilo , Policy Analyst
Anis Hidayah, Executive Director
Alex Ong, Country Director
Kontak: Wahyu 08129307964, Anis 081578722874, Alex: 08176819892
Migrant CAREPerhimpunan Indonesia untuk Buruh Migran Berdaulat(Member of Migrant Forum in Asia and
International NGO Platform on Migrant Workers’ Convention)
Jl. Pulo Asem I C No 15 RT 015 RW 001 Jati, Jakarta Timur 13220 IndonesiaTelp/Fax: +62 21 4752803E-mail: migrantcare@telkom.net, migrantcare@nusa.or.id
The motive of the new bill proposed by Malaysia Home Affair Minister to restrict the movement of migrant workers is questionable. The excuses of crimes committed by Indonesia Migrant workers have escalated by 2% should not be the valid reasons. The plan to table the bill at the Malaysia Parliament is grossly indecent discrimination against vulnerable migrant workers and a violation of international labor rules and codes.
We condemn Malaysia government’s plan to table the bill that allows the employers to confine the workers in the plywood and zinc makeshift quarters in the work sites liken the practices of the illegal human traffickers. The new bill will grant the employers the total control of the workers’ freedom including locking them up like the slaves.
Such a legislative action is prejudice against migrant workers that categorizes migrant workers as a security problem is an over reacted actions. Home Ministry should avoid the plan promote the Out sourcing companies business models that trades human being (Currently there are 213 man power outsourcing company recruited 31,493 workers) as human commodity at 150% to 200% mark up to their respective clients.
The proposed law is also against the teaching of Islam and Islam Hadhari principle promoted by Abdullah Administration as it is a transgression of boundaries and transgression upon a soul, its honor, its property or causing harm to another human (without rights). It will allowed the employers and outsourcing companies to unjustly take the property of another or harm and oppress them with violence, insult, other forms of aggression and taking advantage of another’s weakness.
The current practice of the retaining of passports by agents and employers to control foreign workers movements, puts foreign workers in a very precarious situation where the threat of becoming an ‘undocumented’ or “illegal immigrant” are at the mercy of the unscrupulous employers/agents.
Migrant workers are not tourists or visitors. Migrant workers are here for work. Malaysia needs more effective enforcement of the Employment Act, the Industrial Relations Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Workmen’s Compensation Act and many others. Home Ministry’s effort to usurp the powers and jurisdiction of the Human Resource Ministry is an unnecessary additional blunder.
Home Ministry should to concentrate on its primary and fundamental duties in addressing the rising crime rate and the presence of the millions of undocumented workers in this country.
The controversial involvement of Rela has caused international embarrassment to Malaysia when Ops Tegas in 2004 had created many highlighted shame that Home Ministry had successfully deported 384,000 undocumented workers but failed to punish a single unscrupulous employers.
Home Ministry should also be more focus in tackling the corruptions within its own ministry rather than to create new laws. Home Ministry has not solved its internal problems such as:
1. Issuance of the faked approval letters,
2. Failure of its legal department to prosecute the employers who failed to pay the fines and compounds,
3. Illegal collection of protection fees from undocumented workers,
4. Inability to control the excessive marking up of levy fees (RM 1,200 to RM 3,000 per head) through Immigration brokers,
5. Inability to control the Maid agencies from complying with the ceiling fees charges,
6. Inability to discipline of RELA team whom has been given the military Ranks without earning their military merits.
7. Failure to enforce the amended immigration acts 2002 fairly and transparently.
8. Failure to prosecute the mastermind behind the human trafficking activities that involved more than 200,000 migrant workers
Passage of the law to be tabled could trigger many unnecessary diplomatic strains and the domestic political tension among the family of the migrant workers in Indonesia.
Migrant Care urges the Home Affairs Minister to stop tabling the bill which will carry multi dimensional damages to Malaysia- Indonesia relationship and its good standing image in the OIC and NAM. We calls on to the Malaysia Prime Minister to ignore the proposal in the cabinet meetings before it is brought another international controversial shames to Malaysia government and its people.
Jakarta, 1 March 2007
Wahyu Susilo , Policy Analyst
Anis Hidayah, Executive Director
Alex Ong, Country Director
Kontak: Wahyu 08129307964, Anis 081578722874, Alex: 08176819892
Migrant CAREPerhimpunan Indonesia untuk Buruh Migran Berdaulat(Member of Migrant Forum in Asia and
International NGO Platform on Migrant Workers’ Convention)
Jl. Pulo Asem I C No 15 RT 015 RW 001 Jati, Jakarta Timur 13220 IndonesiaTelp/Fax: +62 21 4752803E-mail: migrantcare@telkom.net, migrantcare@nusa.or.id
Kematian TKW Indonesia Masih Diselidiki Polisi Taiwan
JAKARTA- Tenaga kerja wanita Indonesia Eka Yuanita (Yuyun) yang ditemukan meninggal dunia di Taipei Taiwan, belum bisa dipulangkan ke kampungnya di Blitar Jawa Timur.
Hingga saat ini, pihak kepolisian San Chong Taipei, masih belum selesai menyelidiki penyebab kematian TKW berusia 23 tahun tersebut, yang ditemukan meninggal dunia pada 1 Maret 2007 lalu. Di kaki sebelah kanan jenazah Yuyun terlihat bekas sengatan listrik. Jenazahnya saat ini masih tersimpan di RS San Chong Taipei.
“Kami sudah menanyakan ke sana, dan hingga saat ini pihak otoritas setempat (polisi) masih belum selesai melakukan penyidikan,” kata Kepala Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (BNP2TKI) Jumhur Hidayat, kepada okezone, Selasa (10/4/2007).
Jumhur menambahkan, pemerintah Indonesia tidak memiliki hubungan diplomatik dengan Taiwan, sehingga tidak dilibatkan dalam proses penyidikan tersebut. “Tapi kami yakin Taiwan itu Negara yang beradab, hukumnya lebih maju. Karena itu mereka sangat berhati-hati dalam pemulangan jenazah Yuyun, masih diselidik, apakah kematiannya wajar atau tidak,” tukas Jumhur.
Pemerintah Indonesia, lanjut Jumhur, memantau terus kasus ini, melalui Kantor Dagang dan Ekonomi Indonesia yang berada di Taipei. Pihak keluarga yang meminta agar pemerintah Indonesia membantu pemulangan jenazah diharapkan dapat bersabar. (adi)
Hingga saat ini, pihak kepolisian San Chong Taipei, masih belum selesai menyelidiki penyebab kematian TKW berusia 23 tahun tersebut, yang ditemukan meninggal dunia pada 1 Maret 2007 lalu. Di kaki sebelah kanan jenazah Yuyun terlihat bekas sengatan listrik. Jenazahnya saat ini masih tersimpan di RS San Chong Taipei.
“Kami sudah menanyakan ke sana, dan hingga saat ini pihak otoritas setempat (polisi) masih belum selesai melakukan penyidikan,” kata Kepala Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (BNP2TKI) Jumhur Hidayat, kepada okezone, Selasa (10/4/2007).
Jumhur menambahkan, pemerintah Indonesia tidak memiliki hubungan diplomatik dengan Taiwan, sehingga tidak dilibatkan dalam proses penyidikan tersebut. “Tapi kami yakin Taiwan itu Negara yang beradab, hukumnya lebih maju. Karena itu mereka sangat berhati-hati dalam pemulangan jenazah Yuyun, masih diselidik, apakah kematiannya wajar atau tidak,” tukas Jumhur.
Pemerintah Indonesia, lanjut Jumhur, memantau terus kasus ini, melalui Kantor Dagang dan Ekonomi Indonesia yang berada di Taipei. Pihak keluarga yang meminta agar pemerintah Indonesia membantu pemulangan jenazah diharapkan dapat bersabar. (adi)
TKW Indonesia Meninggal di Taiwan
JAKARTA - Keluarga Eka Yuanita (Yuyun) berharap pemerintah dapat membantu pemulangan jenazah TKW asal Blitar tersebut, yang meninggal dunia di Taipeh, Taiwan, pada 1 Maret 2007 lalu. Pasalnya, pihak perusahaan jasa tenaga kerja yang memberangkatkan Yuyun hingga saat ini, belum juga memulangkan jenazah TKW berusia 23 tahun itu.
“Padahal, kami sudah dimintai syarat-syarat untuk memulangkan jenazah Yuyun dan sudah kami penuhi. Tapi, sampai sekarang perusahaan (PT Danamon Wahana Tenaga Kerja) belum juga berhasil,” kata Sudarmianto, juru bicara keluarga Yuyun, kepada okezone, Selasa (10/4/2007).
Sudarmianto bersama ayah Yuyun, Mudjito, dan pamannya, datang ke Jakarta meminta bantuan kepada pemerintah agar jenazah yang sudah 1 bulan lebih 9 hari itu dapat dipulangkan dari Taipeh, Taiwan, ke Blitar. Mereka meminta bantuan pendampingan pada Migrant Care, sebuah LSM yang bergerak dalam urusan tenaga kerja Indonesia di luar negeri.
“Kami sudah menjadwalkan pertemuan dengan pihak Disnaker, namun pak Jumhur Hidayat (Kepala Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia) masih sibuk,” kata Anis Hidayah dari Migrant Care.
Diketahui, Yuyun berangkat ke Taiwan pada 15 September 2006, melalui PT Danamon Wahana Tenaga Kerja. Dia bekerja sebagai pembantu rumah tangga untuk Hung Ruel Lin. Namun, sejak 26 Januari 2007, dia melarikan diri dari rumah majikannya.
“Saat berkomunikasi dengan saya pada pertengahan Februari 2007, Yuyun bilang dia sudah pindah kerja karena pekerjaannya di restoran berat,” kata Sudarmianto.
Tiba-tiba, pada 2 Maret 2007 lalu, Kepolisian San Chong melaporkan kepada Kantor Dagang dan Ekonomi Indonesia di Taipei bahwa seorang TKW yang bernama Eka Yuanita telah meninggal dunia pada 1 Maret 2007.
Seorang pemilik rumah yang bermarga Ting secara tidak sengaja menemukan korban tergeletak di lantai dalam kondisi sudah tidak bernyawa. Pada kaki sebelah kanan korban terlihat bekas sengatan listrik yang diduga merupakan penyebab meninggalnya korban. Saat ini, jenazah Yuyun masih berada di RS San Chong, Taipeh Taiwan. (adi)
“Padahal, kami sudah dimintai syarat-syarat untuk memulangkan jenazah Yuyun dan sudah kami penuhi. Tapi, sampai sekarang perusahaan (PT Danamon Wahana Tenaga Kerja) belum juga berhasil,” kata Sudarmianto, juru bicara keluarga Yuyun, kepada okezone, Selasa (10/4/2007).
Sudarmianto bersama ayah Yuyun, Mudjito, dan pamannya, datang ke Jakarta meminta bantuan kepada pemerintah agar jenazah yang sudah 1 bulan lebih 9 hari itu dapat dipulangkan dari Taipeh, Taiwan, ke Blitar. Mereka meminta bantuan pendampingan pada Migrant Care, sebuah LSM yang bergerak dalam urusan tenaga kerja Indonesia di luar negeri.
“Kami sudah menjadwalkan pertemuan dengan pihak Disnaker, namun pak Jumhur Hidayat (Kepala Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia) masih sibuk,” kata Anis Hidayah dari Migrant Care.
Diketahui, Yuyun berangkat ke Taiwan pada 15 September 2006, melalui PT Danamon Wahana Tenaga Kerja. Dia bekerja sebagai pembantu rumah tangga untuk Hung Ruel Lin. Namun, sejak 26 Januari 2007, dia melarikan diri dari rumah majikannya.
“Saat berkomunikasi dengan saya pada pertengahan Februari 2007, Yuyun bilang dia sudah pindah kerja karena pekerjaannya di restoran berat,” kata Sudarmianto.
Tiba-tiba, pada 2 Maret 2007 lalu, Kepolisian San Chong melaporkan kepada Kantor Dagang dan Ekonomi Indonesia di Taipei bahwa seorang TKW yang bernama Eka Yuanita telah meninggal dunia pada 1 Maret 2007.
Seorang pemilik rumah yang bermarga Ting secara tidak sengaja menemukan korban tergeletak di lantai dalam kondisi sudah tidak bernyawa. Pada kaki sebelah kanan korban terlihat bekas sengatan listrik yang diduga merupakan penyebab meninggalnya korban. Saat ini, jenazah Yuyun masih berada di RS San Chong, Taipeh Taiwan. (adi)
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