PREVENTING MIGRANT WORKERS FROM BECOMING DRUG COURIERS by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 13, 2016 (Antara) - Last year, the South China Morning Post had reported that Hong Kong's triad was targeting Indonesian migrant workers to smuggle drugs into the workers' own country.

         Organized crime gangs from Hong Kong and southern China had long been key players in Indonesia's illicit drugs market, but recent cases indicate that they have been adopting a diverse range of tactics.

         According to domestic helpers' rights groups, maids could be an easy prey for drug rings looking for couriers, the media wrote.    
    The migrant workers were given money for carrying illicit drugs to Indonesia. These were usually concealed in their luggage, under their clothes or inside their shoes. Some packages were sent ahead by the syndicates, and recruited migrant workers were told to collect them upon their arrival in Jakarta.

         For the past several years, many major drug smuggling attempts into Indonesia had originated from China, Hong Kong or Malaysia.  
    Currently, as many as 38 Indonesian workers are in jail in Hong Kong in drug related cases.

         To prevent more migrant workers from falling into the trap of drug mafia, Chief of the National Narcotic Agency (BNN) Commissioner General Budi Waseso visited Hong Kong from August 11 to 13, 2016.

         Waseso spoke to a gathering of Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong and warned them not to be fooled by drug traffickers.

         "You are here to earn a better income, and make a better life for your families in Indonesia. You have traveled so far to this country, so now do not end up as drug couriers and going to prison. Prison might not be that bad, but what about capital punishment?" he asked the workers.

         He reminded the workers, mostly women, to not be fooled by strangers, especially those from Pakistan and Western Africa.

         "They are very good at flattery. After flattering you, they will give you a lot of money and goods, with the final aim to turn you into drug couriers. The destination is Indonesia, and drugs come from various countries, including the Middle East. Therefore, Indonesia is now in a state of emergency due to drugs," he told the workers.     
    He also reminded them not to use and buy drugs, and instead send their money to their children and parents in their hometowns.

         During his stay in Hong Kong, Waseso held a meeting with Commissioner of Drug Bureau of Hong Kong, Stephen Lo, to discuss anti-drug cooperation.    

INDONESIA PLANS TO STOP SENDING DOMESTIC HELPERS ABROAD BY 2018 By Fardah

     Jakarta, May 9, 2015 (Antara) -- Lack of job opportunities and poverty are among factors that made Indonesia one of the world's largest suppliers of migrant workers, including domestic helpers, overseas.

         Among the largest recipients are Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and South Korea.

         Taking care of some five million migrant workers (according to 2012 data) overseas is no easy task as the government has to spend a lot of time, energy, and money on protecting them. However, it is merely the logical consequence of the government's inability to create enough jobs for its people at home.

         The administration of President Joko Widodo has planned to stop the sending of domestic helpers abroad by 2018, by when the country's economic growth rate is expected to improve significantly.

MARY JANE'S CASE DRAWS SYMPATHY FROM INDONESIAN NGOs by Fardah

    Jakarta, May 8 (Antara) - The legal case involving Filipino migrant worker Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, a death row convict, has drawn significant attention, particularly from Indonesian NGOs and legal experts, as it helped put the country's legal enforcement process in the spotlight.      
   The execution of Mary Jane on April 29, 2015, was delayed following a new development in her case in the Philippines that now requires her testimony.

        The last-minute reprieve came after Mary Jane's recruiters Maria Kristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilo reportedly surrendered to law enforcement authorities in the Philippines, admitting they had tricked Mary Jane into being an unwitting drug mule, resulting in her death penalty.    
    Moreover, Mary Jane is suspected to be a mere victim of human trafficking in the Philippines.

SAUDI URGED TO LOWER EXORBITANT DIYAT TO SAVE WORKER'S LIFE by Fardah

    Jakarta, March 31, 2014 (Antara) - Diyat or blood money of Satinah, Indonesian migrant worker facing death penalty in Saudi Arabia for murdering her employer, has become a dilemma because the amount is considered too high and difficult to pay.

         Satinah, 41, who claimed to have been treated badly while working with the Al Gharib family, was sentenced to death in 2011, after she admitted to killing her 70-year-old employer, Nura Al Gharib, and robbing 37.9 Thousand Saudi riyals from the victim.

         Under Saudi law, the execution could have been avoided if the offender could pay compensation, called Diyat, to the families of the victims.

INDONESIAN GOVT URGED TO PROTECT MIGRANT WORKERS By Fardah

   Jakarta, Nov 16, 2012 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has been urged to offer better protection to the nation's migrant workers overseas, in the wake of two cases of alleged rape involving Indonesian female workers in Malaysia this month.

        The latest rape case occurred on November 9, when a 25-year-old Indonesian restaurant waitress from Central Java, identified as SM, claimed that she was gang-raped by three Malaysian Police officers at Perai police office, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Penang State.

REMITTANCES FROM MIGRANTS SOFTEN GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS BLOW By Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 9, 2012 (ANTARA) - A huge banner reading, "Welcome Foreign Exchange Heroes," has been put up in the arrival lounge of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, to welcome Indonesian migrant workers, which mostly include young women from rural areas who work overseas as domestic helpers.
     With annual remittances totaling around US $6 billion, migrant workers have become the second largest contributor to Indonesia`s foreign exchange reserves.

SLAIN MIGRANT WORKERS NOT FORGOTTEN ON MAY DAY by Fardah

       Jakarta, May 2, 2012 (ANTARA) - The three Indonesian migrant workers who died after being shot in their heads and chests by five Malaysian policemen in March 2012 were remembered by workers observing May Day on May 1.
       In the May Day rally in Jakarta, workers grouped under the Indonesian Workers Council expressed their condolences over the shooting of the three workers by the Malaysian police.

Indonesian Goverment Provides Lawyers to Defend Migrant Workers Overseas by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 27, 2012 (ANTARA) - Taking care of around five million migrant workers overseas is not an easy task at all since the government has to spend so much energy, time and money on protecting them.

   But it is merely  the logical consequence of the government's inability to create  enough jobs for its people at home.

   Indonesia is one of the world's largest suppliers of migrant workers overseas. Among the largest recipients are  Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and South Korea.

Year-Ender: DAUNTING TASK OF PROTECTING MIGRANT WORKERS OVERSEAS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Dec 24, 2011 (ANTARA) - The year 2011 has been very busy year for Indonesian migrant workers and the government as well because of continuing problems such as ill treatments and legal problems, and the Arab Spring in particular.

     With almost five million Indonesians working overseas, the government has been forced to spend much energy, time and money on preparing policies and measures for their protection.

      Indonesia is one of the largest suppliers of migrant workers overseas such as in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, South Korea, and several countries experiencing Arab Spring uprising, like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria.

TEAM TO SAVE MIGRANT WORKERS' LIVES IN SAUDI ARABIA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 15, 2011 (ANTARA) - The government is racing against time to save the lives of seven migrant workers on death row in Saudi Arabia, where over 900,000 Indonesians work at present, making it the second biggest user of Indonesian manpower after Malaysia.
       A team led by Muhammad Maftuh Basyuni, the head of the Task Force on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, will leave for Saudi Arabia on October 16, 2011, to lobby certain parties in the Middle Eastern country in order to obtain legal relief for the seven workers.

GOVT INTENSIFYING EFFORTS TO PROTECT MIGRANT WORKERS by Fardah

      Jakarta, July 1, 2011 (ANTARA) - Things have been developing very fast regarding efforts to protect TKIs overseas, since the beheading of Ruyati, an Indonesian migrant worker (TKI) in Saudi Arabia last June 18, for murdering her employer.
      Over the past few weeks, the government has been spending much energy, time and money on preparing policies and steps for the protection of around five million Indonesians working overseas.

TKI DISPATCH MORATORIUM HAILED, GOVT TO FORM TASK FORCE by Fardah

      Jakarta, June 23, 2011 (ANTARA) - The government`s decision to halt the sending of Indonesian migrant workers to Saudi Arabia was hailed by various parties, and more than that a special task force is set up to help troubled TKIs overseas.
      Former vice president Jusuf Kalla, noted international law Hikmahanto Juwana, and House Speaker Marzuki Alie have supported and appreciated the government for the moratorium which comes into effect on August 1, 2011.

GOVT FINALLY STOPS MIGRANT WORKERS DISPATCH TO S ARABIA by Fardah

       Jakarta, June 22, 2011 (ANTARA) - The government has finally decided to impose a moratorium on the dispatch of migrant workers (TKI) to Saudi Arabia after being pressured by various parties following tragic ordeals suffered by several TKIs in the Middle Eastern kingdom.
      "After considering and studying the impact of total tightening for the past three months the Indonesian government decided to declare a moratorium on the dispatch of workers to Saudi Arabia," Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said here on Wednesday.

RI REACTS STRONGLY TO SAUDIS BEHEADING MIGRANT WORKER by Fardah

      Jakarta, June 20, 2011 (ANTARA) - The beheading of Ruyati binti Satubi, an Indonesian female migrant worker, in Saudi Arabia has prompted the government to protest the action by recalling its ambassador to the Middle Eastern kingdom.
       "We will recall Ambassador Gatot Abudullah Mansyur from Riyadh, and keep the ambassadorial post in Saudi Arabia vacant until the issue has been cleared up, and the conditions of TKIs placed there are improved. Ambassador Gatot is expected to return home today," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said at a hearing with the House of Representatives` Commission I at the Parliament Building here Monday.

WORKERS OBSERVE MAY DAY PEACEFULLY, CALL FOR WELFARE IMPROVEMENT by Fardah

       Jakarta, May 1, 2011 (ANTARA) - Thousands of workers celebrated Labor Day or May Day on May 1 in a number of cities peacefully, Sunday, and chanted calls for their welfare improvement, revocation of outsourcing contract system, and social insurance for laborers.
      May Day stems from ancient customs associated with the celebration of spring. It is also a national holiday for workers in many countries around the world.

Indonesian migrant workers continue to face ordeals by Fardah

    Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Over four million Indonesians have become migrant workers (TKI) overseas particularly in Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
    Bank Indonesia (BI) has recorded that per September 2010, Indonesian migrant workers` remittances totaled 5.03 billion US dollars, up 2.44 percent from 4.91 billion US dollars in the same period last year.
     Difi A Djohansyah, a spokesman of the central bank, said in Jakarta recently that per September 2010, Indonesia sent 427,000 workers abroad, down 12 percent from 479,000 workers in the same period in 2009.
     With the additional workers, the total number of Indonesian workers abroad in September 2010 reached 4.32 million people.  Poverty and inadequate numbers of jobs in the country are among factors which have forced them to work overseas.