June 28, 2007
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are expected to cooperate in eradicating illegal labour recruiting agencies which have made Saudi Arabia a basis for Indonesian migrant workers to be sent to other mideastern countries, ANTARA News Agency reported Thursday.
Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno was quoted as saying here that he had recently met with the Deputy to the Saudi Manpower Minister to discuss the developments of sending Indonesian workers to that country.
"Saudi (Arabia) had asked us to cooperate in efforts to minimize the number of such cases," Erman said.
The minister also disclosed that Saudi Arabia was planning to implement a law on manpower affairs which also concern migrant workers including those employed in the informal sector (domestic helpers).
"The law imposes severe sanctions on employers who illegally employ migrant workers," Erman told ANTARA.
On rumors about 40,000 troubled Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, the minister said their number was not that big, because there are now only 473 Indonesian troubled migrant workers staying in various camps.
"As many as 20 to 30 people are returned (to Indonesia) per day under the auspices of Saudi (Arabia)," he said.
He admitted there were a number of Indonesian nationals who performed the umrah (minor haj) who are in trouble for overstaying.
They are now being prepared for deportation to Indonesia.
The Saudi government has earlier called on foreign citizens who worked illegally and violated their staying permits to report to the relevant local authorities from April 1 to June 1, 2007.
After the deadline, the Saudi government would ferret out those violating its laws. It was reported that 66,000 foreign nationals, not to mention Indonesians, were arrested in the raid.
In his meeting with the Deputy to the Saudi Manpower Minister, Erman proposed a raise of Indonesian migrant workers' wages from 800-1000 rials to 1250-1500 rials.
The proposal is being considered by a Saudi agency dealing with migrant workers (Sanarcom).
-- BERNAMA
