RI migrant workers in Mideast get minimum wage increased

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 10/20/2007 4:03 PM

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Government and labor exporters recently agreed to a new minimum monthly wage of 800 real (US$214) for new Indonesian migrant workers in the Middle East, in particular Saudi Arabia, which has some three million Indonesian workers.

Head of the government-backed National Labor Export and Protection Agency, Jumhur Hidayat, said the new wage -- increased from 600 real in June -- had been put into new labor contracts approved by Indonesian embassies in the region.

""Indonesia could not adhere to the request from Saudi Arabian labor supplying agency Sanarcom to suspend the wage increase until January 2008,"" he said.

""The rate has not increased for more than a decade and the decision was based on extensive studies of the labor market in the region.""

Saudi Arabia is the main importer of Indonesian workers in the Middle East. The majority of Indonesian migrant workers there are employed as maids and in the construction and mining sectors.

By comparison, Indonesian maids working in Hong Kong are paid at least HK$2,000 (US$258) a month and are entitled to one day off a week. In Saudi Arabia workers must also endure longer working hours of up to 18 hours per day.

Indonesia's labor attach in Jeddah, Agus Suwandi, said the Indonesian Embassy would not negotiate the decision with Sanarcom.

""The embassy will only approve contracts with the new minimum wage,"" he said over the telephone.

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Labor Exporters (Apjati), Husein Alaydrus, said the minimum wage was being increased because it was the lowest in the Middle East.

""If Sanarcom has any objections they should look for workers from Mongolia, Bangladesh or other countries.""

Husein said Indonesia had been too tolerant and flexible with the minimum wage.

Almost 80 percent of Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are employed illegally and paid some 1,500 real a month, despite harsh laws regulating migrant workers there.

The law threatens a maximum six-month jail sentence and a fine of up to 50,000 real for citizens found employing foreigners illegally.

Husein said labor exporters had proposed the establishment of an independent agency to handle workers in trouble, and to take care of migrant workers with children.

""Such a charity organization is needed because most workers and their children are not covered by insurance,"" he said.

Asked about the murder case of two Indonesian migrant workers by a family in Riyadh, Jumhur said the trial was in process. He said the Riyadh court would probably apply qishas (Islamic law) and the Riyadh governor had promised a fair trial.

Qishas law can keep the accused off death row as long as the victims' families are willing to pardon them, but the families have pledged not to.

The workers died and two others suffered serious injuries in August when they were tortured after they were accused of practicing black magic on their employer's ailing son.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.