NTB imposes moratorium on sending migrant workers to Saudi Arabia

The East Nusa Tenggara (NTB) governor Zainul Majdi imposed a moratorium on local migrant workers, which stops the region from sending its female domestic workers to Saudi Arabia following the recent torture of Indonesian maid Sumiati, from NTB, by her Saudi employer.

“This moratorium is an assertion from the local administration, which also pushes for the central government to take action to stop abuse of Indonesian migrant workers, especially those from NTB,” Zainul said in Mataram on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

NTB governor, in a press release signed by H. Nasibun from his office, criticized the torture of Sumiati and urged the central government to closely assist and defend Sumiati's rights and interests.

The NTB local administration and Dompu regent will also provide compensation for Sumiati.

According to the local administration, there were 244 cases of problematic Indonesian migrant workers involving 310 Indonesian workers in 2009. From 244 cases, 154 cases (220 workers) are yet to be solved, while 90 of them have been solved through legal processes.

From January to October 2010, there were 193 cases of Indonesian migrant workers (229 workers). One-hundred-and-thirteen cases (146 workers) are still in legal processes, 80 cases (83 workers) have been solved through legal processes.