GPVERNMENT MUST SECURE INSURANCE PROTECTION TKI MIGREAN WORKERS ABROAD

People’s zest to work abroad had been increasing year after year. Job seekers applying to work abroad kept increasing even when the Government set moratorium for sending of migrant workers [TKI]. Job seekers and their welfare. Such was quite reasonable as there was not enough job opportunities at home.

In consequence the above, various problem emerged. Slavery, forced human right and dignity frequently occurred. There were even cases of human trafficking by felonious gangs. The numerous cases made efforts to protect TKI migrant workers not an easy task.

In view of the bitter reality in overseas employment, the Government had taken several measure to manage TKI placement and protect them. Still all the efforts were rated as not good enough in protecting TKI. Therefore the next Government was espected to give overall protection among others by including two-way insurance protection system for TKI, i.e. insurance at the place of employment and protection at home in Indonesia.

Ayub Basalamah, Chairman of the Association of Indonesian employment Agencies [APJATI] stated in Jakarta on Tuesday [26/8] facilitation of insurance was prove that Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla were seriously striving to secure TKI well being. Ayub state that it was morally mandatory [wajib] for the Government to give overall protection to TKI. “The protection must be inclusive and specific. Total insurance is mandatory. While being protected TKI must also be safeguarded by the insurance agencies, “Ayub said.

While facilitating two-country insurance, the Jokowi – JK administration must sign MoU with the plscement destination countries. So far only Malaysia and Saudi Arabia had signed MoU with Indonesia, other countries had not signed MoU, namely: Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Jordania, Bahrain, Oman, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

Ayub said that overseas employment must not just be perceived as economic process, i.e. remittance of wages and to minimize unemployment but is was a matter of human recognition of workers as dignified individuals and social being. In terms of industrial relationship. Placement and protection of TKI was agreement between TKI and employer being endorsed by two countries while the job description was clear and measurable in accordance with worker’s skill and for a legal cause.

Meanwhile to quote data of the National Board of TKI Placement and Protection [BNP2TKI] remittance of money by TKI abroad to Indonesia in 2013 [from January to November] was posted at USD 7.39 billion or equal to Rp. 81.35 trillion, assuming that value of USD was Rp. 11,000. BPN2TKI reported that very frequently there was increase of TKI salary in some countries and also drifting of TKI to the formal sector posted at 55% and informal sector 45%.

By end of November 2013 BNP2TKI posted TKI placement at 460,723 people broken down as follows: 254,445 formal TKI and 206,278 informal TKI. The total 460,723 workers were distributed in: Asia Pacific 290,336 workers, the Middle East 99,958 workers and Europe, the USA and Africa 30,380 workers. Today a total of 6.5 TKI were spread out in 114 countries in the world. (SS)

Business News - August 29, 2014