Mega- Pro promise to ratify UN convention on migrant worker protection

Dozens of migrant workers, their families and rights activists demanded presidential hopeful Megawati Soekarnoputri immediately ratify the 1990 UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, should she win the presidential election.

The demand was one of the points in a political contract between Megawati and her running mate, Prabowo Subianto, and representatives from migrant worker organizations.

However, Megawati and Prabowo did not attend the contract signing, which was held on Thursday in Jakarta.

Instead, they were represented by their campaign team members Rieke Dyah Pitaloka and Eva Kusuma Sundari.

Besides the ratification, the organizations had also demanded Megawati amend the 2004 law on migrant worker placement in foreign countries, which they said did not provide enough real protection for the workers.

Worker rights activist Mahmudin, from Karawang Migrant Worker Solidarity organization, was quite optimistic that Megawati and Prabowo would be able to deliver their promise.

“Despite the lack of protection schemes, the Migrant Worker Placement in Foreign Countries Law was passed under Megawati administration. At least we have seen a sign of good will from her before...” Mahmudin told The Jakarta Post.