Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The President has ordered National Police chief Gen. Sutanto and Manpower Minister Erman Suparno to act immediately on reports of violations by Indonesian agencies against migrant workers.
"National Police chief, Manpower Minister please pay attention to the cases," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
He spoke to both high-ranking officials after hearing explanations from Tatang Razak, an Indonesian official at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, during his inspection of the newly-renovated embassy building.
During the inspection, Tatang reportedly told the President about migrant worker-related problems the embassy had faced with state and private institutions within Indonesia.
Difficulties cited included claiming insurance payments for migrant workers and excessive fees taken from migrant workers by private firms.
Yudhoyono met last Friday with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss better conditions for Indonesian migrant workers, including human rights and legal protection.
The visit was part of Yudhoyono's efforts to satisfy concerns in Indonesia for the country's migrant workers.
Reports have led the Indonesian public to believe the Malaysian government and Malaysian employers have neglected many Indonesian workers.
But others have said the problems stem from within Indonesia.
Many officials at the foreign ministry said the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has been forced to deal with problems caused by the inability of domestic agencies and private firms.
Officials said Indonesian firms and agencies failed to obey national laws regulating procedures migrant workers.
They said this resulted in unprepared workers being sent overseas.
"It seems their only aim is to get money from the migrant workers," an official at the embassy said.
"They don't care if the workers can get protection or even a job at all."
Several Indonesian migrant workers said they paid between Rp 6 million (US$650) to Rp 10 million for visa and work permits before they were able to leave for Malaysia.
But on arrival to the neighboring country, they had been required to pay another 1,500 (US$470) to 2,500 ringgits.
Workers then must have their monthly salary docked, leaving them with little money to finance their daily lives or to send funds home.
Regulations have stipulated no other labor agency is allowed to take money from workers, because the agencies receive a fee from foreign clients.
Indonesian migrant recruitment agents have reportedly sent workers to Malaysia without proper documents, with some agencies using falsified documents including birth certificates and identification cards.
While the police said they have been aware of these practices, and have made some arrests, there has been little further progress made.
Indonesia's government established the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Overseas Labor (BNP2TKI), led by Jumhur Hidayat.
The agency is tasked to deal with migrant worker issues, but in the last 12 months, it has been criticized for doing little to enhance recruitment practices for migrant workers.
There remains a lack of coordination among institutions within the country and the Malaysian government has repeatedly complained about Indonesia's inability to stop illegal workers coming to its territory.
Wahyu Susilo, an activist with Migrant Care, told The Jakarta Post Malaysian officials must also put into practice the agreement between leaders Abdullah and Yudhoyono to enhance protection for Indonesian migrant workers,
"We are tired of rhetoric or agreement," Wahyu said.
"What we need is concrete action.
"Malaysians must solve the issues of passports and the frequent misconduct of its police and Rela (civilians recruited to monitor foreign migrant workers)," he said.
