[Kabar-indonesia] Abuse of migrant workers in Malaysia 'rising'

[Joyo at aol.com]

The Jakarta Post
November 3, 2006

Abuse of migrant workers in Malaysia 'rising'

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It is a sad story and one over which everyone has expressed
concern, yet it continues to be told again and again.

The plight of Indonesia's overseas workers has historically
been suspect. Now the latest official data seem to indicate
a rise in the abuse of, mostly female, Indonesian workers in
Malaysia.

"We have received more reports of abuses of Indonesian maids
and workers in the last several months. Last month alone we
had three abuse cases, leading to one death," the Foreign
Ministry's director for Indonesian migrant worker
protection, Ferry Adamhar, told The Jakarta Post here
Thursday.

He said at least two cases of abuse had been reported each
month this year. This is a significant increase compared to
last year.

Officials point to the usual suspects for the predicament of
Indonesia's migrant workers: lack of legal protection, the
unpreparedness of workers to cope with foreign surroundings,
unscrupulous labor companies and exploitative employees.

"Besides a lack of legal protection, most of our workers
lack the necessary documents, such as a work permit and
visa," Ferry said, adding that "many also misuse the
regulation that allows foreign visitors to stay in Malaysia
for two weeks without a visa to find a job".

The rise in the number of reported cases could also be a
result of better reporting mechanisms, with the Foreign
Ministry having increased the number of officials assigned
to countries where many Indonesians work.

More than 400,000 Indonesians officially work in Malaysia,
most employed as maids, construction workers or shop
attendants.

But the unofficial number of Indonesian workers in the
neighboring country, according to some estimates, could be
double that figure. Many of these workers have entered
Malaysia illegally and are not protected by the law.

While a combination of factors has helped create the
detrimental conditions many of the migrant workers find
themselves in, labor activists also blame authorities in
Malaysia for the growing abuse.

According to Suaram, a leading Malaysian rights group, a
civilian volunteer force established to help Malaysian
police round up illegal immigrants often uses excessive
force, causing serious injury to Indonesians and other
foreign nationals.
The rights group said Wednesday most members of the
volunteer force of more than 400,000 civilians -- known by
the local acronym Rela -- were poorly trained and did not
understand the basics of human rights.

The volunteers "regularly use brutal methods and excessive
force while arresting migrants", Suaram was quoted as saying
by AP, adding that it was "a national shame and a dangerous
setback for the promotion and protection of human rights in
Malaysia".

Suaram cited at least three incidents since July when
suspected illegal immigrants from Indonesia, Bangladesh and
Myanmar were beaten.

Most were later discovered to have valid immigration
documents, it added.

It said volunteers also often forced their way into homes
without warrants, destroyed private property and wrongfully
detained suspects.

Suaram urged Malaysian officials to cease the use of these
civilian volunteers.

Ferry said that to prevent such abuses Indonesian workers
headed to Malaysia or any other country must have all the
necessary documents.

"The Manpower Ministry and Immigration Office must ensure
that our workers have sufficient documentation before they
let them leave the country," he said.

The predicament of Indonesian workers abroad is all the more
ironic since these 2.7 million workers support families in
villages across the country. Migrant workers send some
US$2.9 billion home each year.

A grim statistic from the Foreign Ministry highlights the
dangers facing the country's migrant workers: more than 300
have died in the past 10 months.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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