According to Indonesian Migrant Workers Association (ATKI) Hong
Kong-Taiwan-Macau, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) failed as its development
concept did not accommodate migrant workers’ interest. MDGs whose preliminary
commitment is to achieve and increase social welfare, but in fact it ignored
the rights of migrant workers. A major part of migrant workers are women who
would finally have an effect on their children. “MDGs failed. The problem in
migration is that migrant workers become displaced persons who do not have work
opportunities in their own country. But, the Indonesian government continually
speaks about the success of MDGs. What are the parameters?” Karesiwen of ATKI
told Business News (4/5).
Migration/movement of persons naturally from one country to another was
becoming a sensitive issue from day to day. While, institution like WTO is just
the same as MDGs. They failed to handle migration issue proportionally.
WTO equalizes migrant workers from Indonesia, the Philippines, and
Vietnam. Rules on equalization of migrant workers working overseas are governed
in GATS (General Agreement on Trade Services) Mode 4 and WTO migration
agreements. “This is very careless. Professional workers working as doctors,
engineers, and information technology (IT) expert cannot be equalized with
housemaids, factory workers, and fisherman.”
Indonesian migrant workers cannot be equalized to migrant workers from
the Philippines, Vietnam and other countries. WTO was still negotiating on the
categorization of specifications of migrant workers.
GATS Mode 4 not yet accommodated the interest of migrant workers. WTO
not yet made an instrument that could increase welfare of migrant workers. From
year to year, “WTO was only focusing on negotiation between supplier and
demander of cheap workers. They only think about how to get cheap workers,
including those from Indonesia.”(E)
Business News - April 10,2013
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