23 May 2007
An estimated 40,000 Indonesians working illegally in Saudi Arabia will face deportation after concluding their prison terms as part of the country's plans to crack down on illegal migrant workers as of June 1, 2007.
Reliable sources at home expressed deep concern over the Indonesian government's sluggish anticipation of the negative impacts of the long-planned crack down because of the absence of any indication the illegal workers would voluntarily and immediately return home.
Director of labor placement and protection at the National Labor Placement and Protection Agency (BNP2TKI), Kustomo, confirmed that his office has long been aware of the crack down, but that it entrusted the matter to the Foreign Ministry.
"Today, agency chief Jumhur Hidayat met with the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Jakarta to ensure the (crack down) raid will proceed humanely and to seek a peaceful solution to the problem," he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
He said that if the illegals failed to return home before the May 31 deadline, Indonesia would ask the Saudi Arabian authorities to legalize them.
Kustomo added that the Indonesian ambassador to Saudi Arabia was also here to coordinate with the Foreign Ministry in taking anticipatory measures to protect Indonesians in that country.
Saudi Arabian immigration authorities have asked foreign illegals to leave the country by the May 31 deadline or else face a 100 Saudi real (US$26.6) fine and serve a six-month jail sentence before being deported.
Around 1.2 million Indonesians are working as housemaids, drivers, gardeners and machine operators at mining sites in Saudi Arabia, with some 40,000 having overstayed their visits or being without the requisite documents.
Jumhur cited the black market of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia as the cause of so many Indonesians lacking documentation after running away from their agents.
"Some employers are willing to pay 1,000 to 1,200 Saudi reals on the black market, while the actual salary is only 600 real -- and it hasn't increased for 20 years. If the salary is raised, I hope it will decrease the demand on the black market," he said.
Migrant Care, which has been an advocate for migrant workers overseas, expressed its disappointment with the Indonesian government, which it said was too slow in taking anticipatory steps to reduce the effects of the crack down as it did with tens of thousands of Indonesian illegals deported from Malaysia in the past.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the labor and social affairs commission at the House of Representatives, Ribka Tjiptaning, slammed BNP2TKI, which she said has yet to take necessary measures to provide protection for the illegal migrant workers.
"The agency should focus not on labor placement that may give money to its staff, but on the protection of migrant workers, particularly those developing trouble in their work places," she said. (08)
Ridwan Max Sijabat
